The Aurora Arts Festival: Reup - Recycle & Upcycle & More

The Aurora Cultural Arts District (ACAD) is pleased to announce its annual Aurora Arts Festival. This year’s theme is Recycle and Upcycle art - ReUp!

This annual event is FREE and open to the public

Event Details: auroraculture.org

“The recycled art movement is gaining popularity worldwide,” says Tracy Weil the Managing Director of the Aurora Cultural Arts District. “We thought it would be a fun spin on an arts festival as there really isn’t anything like it in the Denver Metro area. Our goal is to make this an annual event.”

The festival will be held in Fletcher Plaza at 9898 E. Colfax Ave. Saturday, June 28^th from 10am-8pm. Last year's event drew over 1500 people to the event filled with art, theatre performances and live music. “Our goal this year is to create an even larger event - one that is all inclusive and celebrates the great artists, performers and musicians that have connections to our district,” says Satya Wimbish, ACAD Vice President. Also in attendance to perform will be Aurora’s new Poet Laureate Jovan Mays who will do select readings inspired by Aurora.

This year, we’re collaborating with the City of Aurora Cultural Services Division to really ramp up the event.  The 2014 event will have a special Recycled/Upcycled Fine Arts area that is a juried section of the show.   
“This is the first year that the City of Aurora’s Art in Public Places will be involved with the Arts Festival.  We are looking forward to assisting the Aurora Cultural Arts District in making this festival the “go-to festival for re-cycled/up-cycled art and other fine art,” said Mary Koernig, the Public Art Coordinator for the City of Aurora.

Other activities at the festival include a full music, entertainment & performance schedule. Highlights  include an appearance by local the Gypsy Roma American brass band Gora Gora Orkestar (3:30pm), excerpts from “RENT” by the Ignite Theatre Company (7pm) and starting off the festival is the Aurora Symphony. The festival will also have inflatables for the kids to play on for a small price as well as free interactive arts and crafts. Bring the family! The art district and Downtown Aurora Visual Arts will host several “art activity” booths for youth to create their own recycled art works.

ARC Thrift Stores is sponsoring the 'Art Reimagined' activity areas where budding and professional artists can reuse paintings donated at ARC locations to “add on to.” This is a new trend that’s surfacing where artist gather disregarded paintings from thrift stores and add their own characters and imagery to these existing works, creating a new fresh interpretation. Finished paintings will be displayed at the ACAD Studios and Galleries this Winter to help raise money for the district. (See attached image for an example by ACAD Artist Daniel W. Sorensen)

Also in honor of the festival the Vintage Theatre to host free screening of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ June 28. Aurora’s Vintage Theatre continues its Classic Movies series with “The Wizard of Oz” on Saturday, June 28, 1:00 p.m. This free screening of the 1939 classic is part of the Aurora Arts Festival. The Vintage is located at 1468 Dayton St, Aurora, CO 80010.

Also don't miss the ARTISTES NOUVEAUX MODERN VAUDEVILLE - DURING THE ARTS FESTIVAL at 8pm presented by the Aurora Fox Theatre!

FREE Dance Classes at Kim Robards Dance

9990 East Colfax Ave, Aurora

KRD Sampler Day as part of ACAD Arts Festival

9:00 - 1:30 Free Classes

No experience necessary

All levels; Ages 3 to adult

303-825-4847

Also don't miss the 4:30 PM Free Performance of Ms. Robards original choreography