Anthem Festival of Fine Arts a hit

ANTHEM – More than 4,000 people from across the Valley enjoyed the artwork of 70 award‑winning and emerging Arizona artists and 20 performing groups during the Third Annual Arts Council of the North Valley Festival of Fine Art held Jan. 12‑14 at Anthem.

Attendees enjoyed the live music of the Pete Pancrazi Trio and Meadowlark as well as professional performing groups such as Arizona Opera, Ballet Arizona, Act Two Productions, and AZDance Group, The Great Arizona Puppet Theater, Flamenco del Sol. Community‑based performing groups Starlight Community Theater, Desert Foothills Theater, Movement E‑Motion and AZDance Group’s Children’s and Junior/Trainee companies, plus many others, received kudos for their presentations in the festival.

More than $22,000 was raised for creative arts awards and scholarships, art programs for young people, and operating expenses for the ACNV.

Young people were an integral part of the festival as children enjoyed hands‑on creative experiences in two separate Creation Stations, plus entertainment by The Great Arizona Puppet Theater, Arizona Opera “Opera in a Box,” and music time, with “Don’t Worry Be Silly,” by Ira Weitz.

A teen art exhibit showcased more than 40 pieces of art by area high school students.

Three local companies provided gourmet food and beverages at the festival including Phantom Caterers, Our Kitchen to Yours, and The Garden Angel Tea Room.

Sponsors included Arizona Lottery, Gutowski Cabinet Works, The Desert Advocate, Creative Corners, Deer Valley Credit Union, Phantom Realty, Wal‑Mart/Anthem#5329, In & Out of Anthem, ImagesAZ Magazine, PTV Complete Video Production Services, and Mike Spinelli Photography.