ArtFields® marks its fifth year with bigger cash prizes, an expanded Makers Market, more “meet-the-artist” opportunities, and a full lineup of activities, food and musical performances from April 21 to 29, 2017.

Lake City’s downtown historic district will transform into a town-wide art gallery, with approximately 400 works of art featured in more than 40 venues – from cafés to art galleries. A jury of visual art professionals will choose the winning works, and attendees can vote for their favorite in the People’s Choice Awards.

The first four ArtFields competitions delivered nearly half a million dollars in cash prizes to regional artists residing in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

• Getting to know the artists from these diverse locales is an important aspect of the competition. One feature is the new Salon Conversations, dialogue between established artists discussing various topics within the art industry today. Returning for a second year is Lunchtime Crunchtime, featuring 40 competition artists speaking about their craft for three minutes apiece. Both “networking” events take place in the Bean Market just across from the Village Green.

• ArtFields is taking it to the street this year, by combining area college and university students’ talents with a universally beloved pastime: miniature golf. Collegiate artists will create putt-putt holes throughout downtown Lake City. These fun, inventive and functional works of art will mirror the imaginative themes found in a number of the festival’s featured venues, and attendees can play through at their leisure.

• Attendees can do more than look, they can also create. Artist instructors will lead hands-on arts and crafts stations as part of the ArtMakers program on April 29, from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

• Visitors can peruse the artisan handmade goods and explore downtown at the Makers Market; once a one-day affair, the market will be extended to two days this year in response to demand.

• ArtWalks also engage, allowing attendees to choose either docent-led educational strolls through competition venues or opting for self-guided experiences. 

• Live music will be performed throughout the district at various times during the 9-day festival, and at the Village Green on weekend evenings.

• Be on the lookout for tickets to additional festival events, like the ArtFields Dandelion Gala, set for Thursday, April 27, 2017.

The nine-day art competition transforms historic Lake City, more than tripling its population and creating a palpable buzz throughout dozens of venues. Many artists attend the festival, networking with peers, connecting with art patrons, and enjoying the local hospitality. A full schedule will appear at artfieldssc.org by January 31.

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About ArtFields®

April 21-29, 2017

ArtFields® is the recipient of the 2017 Southeast Tourism Society Award and The Charles A. Bundy Award. The competition began in 2013 with a simple goal: honor the artists of the Southeast with a week's worth of celebration and competition in the heart of a traditional Southern small town. With over $120,000 up for grabs, awarded based on the input of visitors to ArtFields and a panel of judges comprised of acclaimed visual arts professionals, the competition offers life-changing amounts of money to all artists in all media who live in the 12 Southeastern states. The 400 pieces will be displayed in locally owned venues, from renovated warehouses from the 1920's to a Smithsonian-qualified art gallery to upscale restaurants and start-up boutiques, in a mutual celebration of art and community. What was once one of South Carolina's most prosperous agricultural communities now becomes a living art gallery as it demonstrates the best of the Southeast and recognizes the incredible talent here.