Sponsorships still available for yearly event which showcases 250 top-tier artists from across the country
Media Contact: Barbara Fornasiero; EAFocus Communications; 248.260.8466; barbara@eafocus.com; Shaun Hayes, Executive Director, Paint Creek Center for the Arts; 248.651.4110; shaun@pccart.org
Rochester, Mich.—June 23, 2023—Dedicated to promoting creativity and artistic excellence by offering a full range of cultural and educational programs throughout the year, Paint Creek Center for the Arts (PCCA) is excited to announce the return of its annual Art & Apples Festival® on September 8–10, 2023, through the generous support of presenting sponsor Genisys Credit Union. This annual three-day jubilee of fine art will once again bring together a juried group of 250 skilled artists and artisans as an anticipated 70,000 attendees are welcomed into sprawling Rochester Municipal Park, near downtown Rochester. Taking center stage will be unique artwork, handmade keepsakes and distinctive home goods available to purchase, sprinkled with live stage entertainment from community music and dance groups; food trucks, tents and restaurant pop-ups offering a wide array of tasty options; the Meijer Kids Art Zone offering children’s art activities; and the Creation Station featuring live art-making demonstrations.
According to Shaun Hayes, Executive Director of Paint Creek Center for the Arts, the Art & Apples Festival not only continues to be a draw for artists, many of whom rave about the venue and travel from out-of-state to participate in the show, but also for Michigan art lovers and community members who see it as a beloved annual tradition. Last year, the festival made a full, strong comeback after two years of pandemic adjustments. This year, Art & Apples continues to heighten some of its current festival offerings.
“There is literally something for everyone at Art & Apples, differentiating us from other traditional art shows,” Hayes said. “This unique combination of art and community make our festival a long-awaited homecoming of sorts as many artists and festivalgoers look forward to returning year-after-year,” Hayes said. “We also are grateful for our presenting sponsor, Genisys Credit Union, who is back for another year, and look forward to a successful festival and some updates, too.”
Updates to the 2023 Art & Apples Festival include:
- The SMART bus system will be shuttling festivalgoers this year to and from Rochester High School at no charge (instead of school buses), providing greater accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
- Even more fun for kids! Expanding the Kids Art Zone, Oakland County Parks and Recreation will be bringing in more of its inflatable recreational offerings as well as a tie-dye station, bubble station, and oversized games.
- There will be new space for Plein Air Artists; 20 artists from the PCCA will be painting in outdoor open-air to showcase their artistry and sell their finished creations.
Art & Apples Festival is continually recognized for its popularity and the caliber of fine art presented. In 2022, it landed on the Top 20 Fine Art and Design festival listings by Sunshine Artist magazine—the only Michigan art festival in that exclusive category and coming on the heels of another prior distinction ranking the festival ninth on the magazine’s list of the 200 Best Fine Art and Design shows for the decade of 2010–2020. Particularly exciting for the arts organization, PCCA was recently named HOUR Detroit Magazine’s Best Art Gallery for 2023.
Now in its 57th year, Art & Apples serves as the PCCA’s signature fundraiser to support the nonprofit organization’s art classes for kids and adults, free art exhibitions, the Art Market exclusively featuring local Michigan artists’ work, summer camps, and community outreach through its Art Anywhere program. A suggested $5 donation per person will be accepted at each of the festival’s entrances; in turn, PCCA shares a portion of these donations with the other area nonprofits and community ‘gate groups’ greeting festivalgoers.
Art & Apples will open on Friday, September 8 from 2 p.m.–7 p.m. in Rochester Municipal Park and continue on Saturday, September 9 from 10 a.m.–7 p.m. and Sunday, September 10 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Want to be part of this community celebration of art? A variety of sponsorship packages are available. For more information, please visit the Art & Apples sponsorship page on the website, call PCCA at 248-651-4110 or email Shaun Hayes at Shaun@PCCArt.org.
About Paint Creek Center for the Arts
Paint Creek Center for the Arts (PCCA), named HOUR Detroit Magazine’s Best Art Gallery for 2023, is a regional nonprofit art center located in Downtown Rochester. PCCA is supported, in part, by contributions from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. PCCA’s overall mission is to support creativity by providing opportunities for all to learn, create, experience, and appreciate the arts. Learn more at pccart.org.
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