If you haven’t heard about the Capital Arts Fest yet, you probably aren’t paying close enough attention to your city’s happenings.
There’s promotional stuff all over the place, and a rolling billboard in the form of a Concord Coach Lines bus promoting the thing (even if some of the images are from slightly outside the Concord area, like Europe).
Nevertheless, whether you’ve heard about it or are just being informed for the first time right now, we’re here to help you understand exactly what this festival is all about.
You see, about six or seven years ago, there was this group formed called Creative Concord. Its mission was to take advantage of Concord’s creative economy, so in other words: use creativity to generate economic growth. Early on, the group brought in a consultant to see the best way to approach that side of commerce.
“There were lots of grassroots discussions about the benefits of a creative economy,” said Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce President Tim Sink.
Fast forward to about eight months ago, and the idea for the Capital Arts Fest was born. Creative Concord wanted someway to celebrate the fact that Main Street was looking all shiny and new.
The committee connected with a group of businesses and organizations in the creative world to see what they thought. It wasn’t a very tough sell.
“There was quite a bit of enthusiasm,” Sink said. “It resonated with groups because we have an opportunity to showcase Concord as a cultural destination.”
And now, the festival is upon us. On Saturday, Concord will be home to a collection of events that will showcase just what this city has to offer when it comes to culture.
“It just so happened that May 6 date, that almost everyone had something in their calendar,” said Nicki Clarke, executive director for the Capitol Center for the Arts, and the one who came up with idea for the Capital Arts Fest.
Now some may think this is going to be an annual thing (which we did as well), but that’s not the case. It is a one-day, one-time-only event for both Concordians and outsiders to enjoy the arts – and theater, music, history, and much more.
“You’ll have to make choices because there’s so much going on,” Clarke said.
All but one of the planned events will be based in Concord (since Canterbury Shaker Village is outside of the city limits) and you can literally spend the entire day, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., taking in the sights and sounds.
“I’m very excited with how its turned out,” Clarke said. “I just want people to come and experience our wonderful Main Street and visit all the cultural places in the city.”
Over the next seven pages, we’ll break down the day for you, including all the times, performances, tours and a map to show you where everything is located.
“We want to draw people into downtown so they can see what the city looks like,” Sink said.
There will be information centers at NEC Concord (62 N. Main St.) and the Chamber (49 S. Main St., Suite 104). Locations participating in the festival will be identified with red balloons.
For the most up to date information and schedule, visit capitalartsfest.com.
And for more coverage, check out Thursday’s Arts & Entertainment section in the Monitor.
