ArtsFest 2023

ArtsFest 2023 – an exciting weekend-long celebration of the arts — will take place in New Rochelle and surrounding communities from Thursday, October 19th through Sunday, October 22nd . Organized by the non-profit New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA) ArtsFest spotlights the diversity of arts and artists in our community, with open studios, live music and dance, film screenings, pop-up art exhibits, a classic car show focused on design, a spoken word event with the acclaimed The Moth, and interactive activities for all ages.

In total ArtsFest will feature more than 30 venues representing the work of some 150 visual and performing artists.

Now in its 14^th year, ArtsFest 2023 will kick off on Thursday, October 19^th with a visit from The Moth , which will be bringing one of its acclaimed Story Slams to Westchester for the first time. The Moth will alight at Trinity St. Paul Parish Hall (311 Huguenot Street) for a live, community-focused open-mic storytelling competition in which anyone can share a five-minute story on the night’s theme, “Traditions.” For details go to  https://themoth.org/events/traditions-new-rochelle

The art of storytelling is at the heart of this year’s ArtsFest which will include a celebration of the long-awaited installation of the statue of E.L.Doctorow, the internationally acclaimed author (and New Rochelle resident)  who wrote his bestseller Ragtime about New Rochelle. Events being planned include a guided trolley tour on Sunday, October 22^nd featuring City Historian Barbara Davis talking about sites associated with Mr. Doctorow and his book Ragtime, followed by a free public reception and a fundraiser Ragtime Jazz Brunch at Wykagyl Country Club from 12:30 to 3 pm with entertainment by renowned pianist Adam Kent and “The Dance Couple” Paolo & Laurentina performing dances of the era. (Tickets cost $125 from https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ragtime-jazz-brunch-tickets-700430796367?aff=oddtdtcreator))

Storytelling will also be the thread that runs through other ArtsFest events, like Musing, Metamorphosis and Medea, an exciting  cross disciplinary event at New Rochelle High School that will explore familiar classic myths from a new perspective through a month-long exhibition of painting, relief sculptures and graphics by artist Marie Hines Cowan at the Museum of Arts & Culture;  a production of the play Medea, Love and Death and Artistic Tragedy in 3 Acts by Valentina Motta; and a symposium with scholar Claire E. Scott.

And the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation will bring author Emily Franklin to New Rochelle for Artsfest to talk about her latest book, The Lioness of Boston, a deeply evocative novel of the life of Isabella Stewart Gardner, the daring visionary who created an inimitable legacy in American art and transformed the city of Boston itself. Foundation

As always, ArtsFest weekend will include open artists’ studios, art exhibits, an outdoor ArtsFest Music Festival featuring five local bands, the ArtsFest Dance Festival showcasing free performances by both professional and amateur companies, the ArtsFest Artisan Market with 40 vendors on the grounds of Thomas Paine Cottage, a Classic Car Show,  spoken word performances and live theater, a German film festival at The Picture House in Pelham,  plus assorted activities for all ages on Saturday and Sunday – including a visit by ArtsWestchester’s ArtsMobile.  And new this year the Hudson Park Children’s Greenhouse will have their Haunted House attraction up and running for ArtsFest on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Also on the menu are art exhibits at the NRCA Rotunda Gallery and the New Rochelle Public Library, plus “Art in the Gardens,” a collaboration between the New Rochelle Art Association and Heathy Yards New Rochelle that will bring pop-up exhibits to local gardens, including the grow! Lincoln Park Conservancy’s Community Garden  which will be hosting the Westchester Land Trust’s Pollinator Pop Up.

The ArtsFest steering committee includes NRCA President Theresa Kump Leghorn and NRCA Board members Margaret Chadwick, Barbara Davis, Monica Deane, Selena Evans, Dave Fabris, Charles Fazzino, Beth Feldman, Julie Maner, and Ken Valenti. along with Chritsine Ramage, Liz Garland, Monica Uhm, Scott Seaboldt, Alexi Brock,  Lisa Itzkowitz, Kael Littman, Suzanne Nolan, and Catherine White.

An official ArtsFest calendar will be mailed to city residents and available at venues as well as online at NRCA’s website www.newrochellearts.org.

ArtsFest is organized by the New Rochelle Council on the Arts. The mission of NRCA (founded in 1975) is to encourage the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts, and over the years NRCA has sponsored art exhibitions, theatrical  productions, dance recitals, film screenings, lectures, spoken word events, concert series and public art.  Find out more about NRCA at www.newrochellearts.org.

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts is proud to be a grantee of ArtsWestchester with funding made possible by Westchester County government with the support of County Executive George Latimer.