DANBURY, CONN. — The nonprofit Friends of the Ives will present the first “Art at Ives, Juried Fine Art & Crafts Show” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12, 2016, at Ives Concert Park on the Western Connecticut State University Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury. This two-day event will highlight more than 75 artists from across the nation with a variety of high-quality original works and a diverse scope of art forms representing every major category: ceramics, fiber, drawing, painting, digital art, photography, glass, metal work, mixed media, sculpture, wearable art, jewelry and wood. Discover how to create origami, the Japanese art of folding paper, or drawing portraiture with live art demonstrations. Great food and live music, along with children’s events featuring the art of puppetry will be included. The event will be rain or shine and admission is $5. Children under 16 are free. Get tickets at www.artatives.eventbrite.com.

A program directory and the Ives website will showcase each artist’s work and provide artist contact information. Art at Ives will be a promoted event in the Connecticut Office of Tourism Open House Day 2016 – a one day statewide celebration of Connecticut’s fascinating world of art, history and tourism.

Ives Concert Park is the ideal location to host this event that seeks to advance the visual arts in Western Connecticut by providing increased visibility for artists. The long-term goal of the Art at Ives Juried Fine Art & Crafts Show is to expand awareness of the arts and enrich the artistic, cultural, educational and economic vitality of the region for years to come.

The Ives’ lush oasis of natural beauty on Danbury’s west side hosts world-renowned artists in a wide variety of music and theater genres. The venue pays tribute to its storied roots in classical music while acknowledging the ongoing evolution of the art of live performance. With entertainment that ranges from enlightening to awe-inspiring, the Ives reflects the diverse multicultural community in which it resides, embracing the unique attributes that the artists and patrons bring to the site. A common love of the arts and the beauty of nature bring fans to the grounds. Shared experiences at the Ives strengthen the fabric of our community.

The Ives has partnered with the WCSU Department of Art, the Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut and the Brookfield Craft Center to offer this event.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.