Posted on June 15, 2011 by Teresa Black

The 2011 Columbus Arts Festival held several milestones: it was the 50^th anniversary, it was the last year in the Discovery District, and it survived what some have called one of the worst storms they had ever experienced during a festival.

As devastating as the storm was, it was equally heartwarming to see the artists, staff and volunteers work together to ensure the show would continue on Sunday.  From cleaning up storm debris to reconstructing tents and repairing damaged art - the show did go on and the patrons did return!

Now that life has returned to normal for us in Columbus, it is important that we don't forget those artists who suffered losses.  An Artist Relief Fund has been established and, to date, has reached almost $7,000 of the $10,000 goal.  To donate to this fund, go to https://columbusartsfestival.org/get-involved/artist-relief-fund.php before the June 30 deadline.

On a brighter note, this was the most successful of the three shows that have been held in the Discovery District.  New features, including the Emerging Artists program, Savor the Arts cuisine showcase, and Connect a Million Minds, were very well received by patrons.  State Auto Insurance was one of many sponsors, hosting the Patron Party for the second year.

Though we are sad to see the Columbus Arts Festival leave the Discovery District, we have enjoyed having it in our neighborhood these past few years.  The festival brought greater visibility to the District and was well-aligned with the existing arts and education resources available here.

On a personal note, I truly enjoyed my first-year experience as a member of the Festival Coordinating Committee and look forward to working with the wonderful staff, volunteers and artists in the years to come.  The planning for the 2012 show will begin soon - contact Leah Alters, Festival Director, for information on how you can get involved!