COUNCIL ADDS PERFORMING ARTS TO WEEKEND ARTS AND CRAFTS FAIR

The annual spring Arts & Crafts Fair at the Show Me Center will take on an added focus this year, including the performing arts as well as hand-made crafts.

The fair, called "Show Me The Arts & Crafts in Southeast Missouri" has been reorganized to include live performance as well as crafts exhibits. It is scheduled Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

"The arts is more than just visual arts," said Beverly Strohmeyer, executive director of the Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts, sponsor of the fair.

"We felt the performing arts would be a natural inclusion to the arts and crafts fair," she said. "It also gives us a chance to showcase the fact that we have a lot of talented performing artists in the area."

The fair was moved to the Show Me Center specifically so that the performing arts could be included, Strohmeyer said.

Performing throughout the day will be dancers from the Academy of Dancearts, Royale Ballet & School of the Performing Arts and the Red Rockers Square Dancers.

The Heartland Songwriters will play original pieces and young musicians from several areas schools will also perform.

The performances will begin on the hour.

"We'd like this to be more of an arts festival," Strohmeyer said. "Incorporating the performers into it will help us do that."

But the fair will also feature about 150 exhibitors from seven states. These exhibitors donate hand-made items to be given away in hourly attendance prize drawings.

"We will also have booths set up in the lobby from community groups promoting arts opportunities in the area," she said. These groups include the Community Concert Association, Broadway Community Theater, the Southeast Missouri Music Teachers Association, Kindermusic and others.

An admission of $1 will be charged for adults. Students and children under 18 will be admitted free. Proceeds from the fair are used by the Southeast Missouri Council on the Arts to match tax dollars from the Missouri Arts Council. They provide educational opportunities and arts events for children.

Strohmeyer said a crowd of more than 5,000 is expected at the two-day event. The fair is the second largest craft fair sponsored by the arts council next to the annual "Christmas at the Show Me Center" arts fair held in November.