ArtFest kicks off in downtown Fort Myers

Author: Morgan Frances
Published:

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Art is taking over downtown Fort Myers as the annual ArtFest kicked off Friday.

Nine hundred artists apply to Artfest every year, and only about 250 artists get a chance to display their work.

A committee uses about 15 categories to rank and vote what artists can showcase their work. This is their livelihood, so that’s 250 small businesses people help support when they buy a piece of art at this event.

In turn, Artfest donates around $30,000 back to kids’ after school art programs.

“It’s a great thing and a lot of kids come to the event we encourage families and children to come so the kids get a chance to see all the different kinds of artwork, talk to the artist, make artwork themselves. It’s just not in the schools anymore so it’s part of their way of being able to have that experience,” said ArtFest Executive Director Sharon McAllister.

Select vendors will sell their art starting at 6 p.m. Friday and ArtFest continues all weekend.

Make sure to stop by the WINK News tent and visit with some of the anchors as well!

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