Monday, October 6, 2008

2009 Festival now Accepting Submissions

The Roanoke Marginal Arts Festival is now accepting submissions for 2009.  Selected works will be screened/exhibited during the festival (from February 19 through 24th) at locations around the city of Roanoke, Virginia.  We are looking for work that explores the social, economic and artistic interpretations of the word "Marginal." We differ from "Fringe" festivals in that the work featured in the festival is vetted for curatorial cohesion, but we encourage off-beat interpretations and approaches. 

Film Submissions: Films should be submitted on DVD, accompanied by a completed submission form, and should not exceed 15  minutes in length. Deadline to receive DVD is December 15, 2008

Project Proposals: This festival is interested in providing exhibition possibilities and performance/installation venues for artists who may not have access to these sort of resources ordinarily. Curators with specific projects in mind are invited to submit specific proposals or to assist with projects in hand. Deadline for 2009 project proposals by email is November 16, but submissions for future festivals is open.

Power-Tool Drag Racing: If you are interested in participating in a workshop that will help you build your own power-tool drag racer, we will have a workshop on Sunday November 16th  at Wilson Hughes Gallery, 117 Campbell Avenue, SW Roanoke, VA 24011 at 1 p.m. If this time or date does not suit please contact us and we will try to provide another time. If you have a power-tool completed that you would like to exhibit and race please fill in a registration form and deliver it to Wilson Hughes Gallery, or contact us at brian@communityhigh.net 
Deliver power-tools for exhibition on Wednesday February 11 between noon and 5 p.m.

Mailing Address: Marginal Arts Festival
c/o Community High
P.O. Box 2104
Roanoke, VA 24009-2104

2009 Festival receives VCA grant

Community High is the recipient of a 2008/2009 Project Grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, supporting its annual Marginal Arts Festival. The Festival, which brings to the stage, dance floor, silver screen, exhibition space and street art forms and artists not usually heard and seen in mainstream formats, is slated to run February 19-23, 2009. The Festival concludes with the school's annual fund raising event- "Fat Tuesday" on February 24.

"We are thrilled to receive the support and validation of the Virginia Commission for the Arts," said Festival Organizer and Community High faculty member, Brian Counihan. "This grant gives the Festival an opportunity to grow, include more art forms and artists and to reach Roanoke Valley communities," added Counihan.

Last season's Marginal Arts Festival featured mail art from around the world, Power-tool drag racing, a photo and video installation, a screening of video art and film, sculptural installations around town and a a window gallery at the Art Museum of Western Virginia called "The Liminal gallery." "I want this Festival to be about the 'other people' of this city and region," explained Counihan. "Those not seen in galleries, performance halls and ivory towers of the mainstream. There are vital stories not being told and important gestures not being seen that could teach us all something about who we are: that is what this festival is about."  An anonymous donor has pledged to match the $3,000 grant. For further information, contact Community High at 540-345-1688

2008 Festival Posters