This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
01/26/2022 08:42 AMAfter a successful 2021 season, the Clinton Arts Council (CAC) is seeking interested artists in a wide array of disciplines to participate in the First Thursdays program in the summer of 2022.
The First Thursday program is an initiative that seeks to draw residents to downtown in the evenings of the first Thursday of each month to experience visual arts in different business locations on Main Street. The idea for the program is that businesses will host a musician or other type of visual artist their space. There will also be food and beverage vendors and visitors are encouraged to walk from station to station like it’s an arts festival, while also checking out the wares for sale in each business.
CAC Board President Steve Van Ness said that the program will be making a return in 2022, and that the council is eager to find artists to sign up for the program as fast as possible. Interested artists should email demo links and résumés or bios, if available, to the arts council at clintonarts19@gmail.com. Performers will be paid a stipend of about $25 to $50; artist tipping is also encouraged.
Van Ness told the Harbor News that the CAC has a goal of trying to grow the program and diversify the types of performers who will be featured in 2022.
“We have about 12 to 15 spots open each Thursday. We don’t have a hard deadline for when artists can apply, but we want to fill the spots as soon as possible,” said Van Ness.
From various musical groups in any genre to other forms of visual artists such as hula hoop tricks, Van Ness said that the CAC is open to featuring all mediums of art whether they be soloists, duos, or ensembles
“My goal is to have as diverse a group of artists as possible,” said Van Ness.
In addition to performers, Van Ness said that the group is also looking for businesses that would be interested in sponsoring the program. Interested parties should contact the CAC at clintonarts19@gmail.com.
First Thursdays is a program that initially started in 2019 and is a joint venture between the CAC and Clinton Chamber of Commerce that hopes to promote both the local art scene and businesses.
“The function is really an economic development or marketing idea to showcase the town,” said Van Ness.
The program was successful the first season but had to be canceled in 2020 due to the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned in summer 2021 with renewed interest that Van Ness said is encouraging for 2022.
“I would definitely say it grew each week. Getting people aware takes time, but it definitely grew,” said Van Ness.
For the 2022 season, Van Ness said that the program is eying a June to October schedule, but added that he is hopeful that the CAC will have enough artists and business in place to possibly hold the first First Thursday as early as May.
“We really want to get more community awareness about this and get as much of the community out as possible,” said Van Ness.
For more information about performing, Clinton’s First Thursday events, or about CAC, contact Van Ness at clintonarts19@gmail.com.