Schedules set for Buffalo River festival, Eureka Springs art festival

Jasper, Ark., will host the Buffalo River Heritage Festival featuring storytelling, music, and art related to the Buffalo River on Sunday (May 22). The event will take place at the Jasper town square and will feature storytellers sharing their tales in the classic oral tradition along with area musicians and artists. Written stories will also be collected for publication.

The event celebrates the heritage of the region in honor of the 100th anniversary of the National Parks. Live stories will be accented by songs of the Buffalo River, both original and traditional. The program was made possible in part by a grant from the Department of Arkansas Heritage, funded by the 1/8-cent conservation tax, Amendment 75.

The Festival begins at noon and will last until 6 p.m. Performance of river stories and songs begins at 2 p.m. from the Nelms Gallery Performance Space at 107 West Church Street.

On the artist’s end, there will be a juried art show behind the Nelms Gallery, in conjunction with the music and story performance. Additionally, venues around the square will feature art of the river, and artists are invited to set up on the lawn of the courthouse during the event.

The website offers more details on what to expect from the storytelling portion as well as a full calendar of events.

The Eureka Springs School of the Arts will host its inaugural Plein Air Art Festival starting at 3 p.m. on Sunday (May 22) and lasting through 7 p.m. on Thursday (May 26).  The event will take place in various locations throughout the area including the Crescent Hotel, Beaver Bridge, Rogues Castle, Beaver Lake Bluffs, and the city’s historic downtown district.

It will consist of “paint outs,” or open air painting, at the aforementioned locations with both all-access and pay-as-you-go options to active participants. There will also be a reception, awards shows for each location, and a final art show as well as numerous workshops throughout the week.

An all-access pass to each paint out and reception is $90. Registration is required for all participants. Workshops and artist table for final show are still available. A stamped canvas will be required for award entry. The canvas will be available in the hospitality tent the morning of each paint out.

Any paintings done during “class time” will not be eligible for awards. Presenting workshops will be artists Carl Petering, Lloyd Kelly, David Tripp, and Wen Norton. Link here for available prize monies per paint out, rules for entry, admission fees, and workshop times/dates.