Creativity On Display This Weekend At Suncoast Arts Festival

If you’re looking for something to stimulate the left side of your brain, consider checking out the 10th annual Suncoast Arts Festival (SAF), a FREE event at the Shops at Wiregrass mall (28211 Paseo Dr.) on Saturday- Sunday, January 17-18. This year’s title sponsor is Ed Morse Cadillac in Brandon.

For the past decade, SAF has served as a place for local artists to gather and display their works for the public, while raising money for art programs in Pasco County. According to the SAF website, more than 100,000 people came out to last year’s SAF, which also was held at the Shops at Wiregrass. 

This year’s event is scheduled to feature more than 125 fine artists in many different media, each of whom will display their works along Paseo Dr. There also will be chalk artists (photo, right) who will decorate the sidewalks, live entertainment at the “Random Acts for Art” stage in the mall’s Center Court, an “Emerging Artist” exhibit of artworks by area high school students and a glass-etching show on Sunday, as well as a “Phoneography Competition” to see who can capture the best photograph at the event on their mobile phone (sponsored by Rasmussen College on S.R. 54 in Land O’Lakes).

Proceeds from the event go towards SAF’s “Arts for Education,” a program run by Fine Arts of the Suncoast, Inc., which is SAF’s not-for-profit parent company. The funds raised benefit arts education programs in Pasco County’s public, private and charter schools. The website says that during the past ten years, SAF has helped raise money for 85 $500 mini-grants for teachers and schools, 24 of which were distributed in Pasco County schools in 2014, totaling $12,000.

Saturday evening also will include the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC)’s Business Showcase, which will this year bring 35 member businesses together to show support for the local art community.

The Suncoast Arts Festival will be open on Saturday, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Sunday. For more info, visit SuncoastArtsFest.com.