Planning underway for Lewiston Art Festival

The Lewiston Council on the Arts is already at work on this summer’s Lewiston Art Festival. Two items of interest were announced Tuesday:

Art Festival Applications Now Available

Applications are now available for the 54th annual Lewiston Art Festival, which will be held Saturday, Aug. 8, and Sunday, Aug. 9, along Center Street in the Village of Lewiston.

More than 175 professional artists will display and sell their work and compete for $6,000 in a wide variety of categories.

The application deadline is March 15. Applications and instructions can be obtained by phone at 716-754-0166; downloaded from the LCA website, www.artcouncil.org; or by email at [email protected].

KeyBank Sponsors Chalk Walk Competition

LCA Executive Director Irene Rykaszewski recently presented KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Officer Kawanza Humphrey and Lewiston branch Vice President Bob Fagiani with an appreciation plaque for their generous sponsorship of the KeyBank Chalkwalk.

Now in its 36th year, the competition will take place during the Lewiston Art Festival on Saturday, Aug. 8.  This colorful event is a highlight of the festival and features teams of talented art students from across Western New York.

Inspired by a different theme each year, teams design and then execute spectacular murals on Center and Fifth streets as they compete for "Arts Are Key" prize money, trophies and bragging rights for their school.

A press release said, “This free event contributes to the uniquely vibrant community that Lewiston residents enjoy and that visitors travel to experience.”

“Art and creativity help communities thrive,” said Gary Quenneville, KeyBank regional executive and Buffalo market president. “The annual Chalkwalk competition encourages participation in and appreciation for the arts, and all of us at KeyBank are proud to support this great family event.”

Pictured, from left, are Rykaszewski, Humphrey and Fagiani.