MAY 16 - 18, 2025
Join us to Celebrate the Artists and Artisans of West Texas
CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS
Celebration of the Arts (COA), organized by the Arts Council of Midland, returns for our 41st year! COA is the cornerstone fine art, fine craft event in the Permian Basin, and is the longest running downtown event in Midland, Texas. COA has a strong reputation locally, with community support year after year, and draws out of town visitors. The festival hosts local entertainers and performers, non-profit organizations, family-friendly activities, and special events throughout the weekend. On Friday evening, we hold a ticketed Premier Party showcasing our juried visual artists to sponsors and ticketed guests. On the following Saturday & Sunday, the festival opens to the general public. Beat the heat inside the air conditioned Bush Convention Center and enjoy a great time with the family!
COA Premiere Party: Friday, May 16, 2025 | 7 - 10PM | Ticketed Event
COA Festival Day: Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 10AM - 5PM | Free Admission
COA Festival Day: Sunday, May 18, 2025 | Noon - 5PM | Free Admission
Tea & Me Party: Sunday, May 18, 2025 | 1 - 2PM | Ticketed Event
Afternoon Tea: Sunday, May 18, 2025 | 2:30 - 4:30PM | Ticketed Event
Art just happens! Get your tickets and join us on the evening of May 16 for a sense of awe and wonder at our Premier Party! Enjoy a wide assortment of heavy hors d’ oeuvres and adult beverages. Everyone is an artist, waiting to brighten the room. Jump into the visual artists hall to shop original artwork before the festival opens Saturday. Bring the entire family! Live art demonstrations, music, and silent auction benefiting the Arts Council of Midland! Fun for all ages!
Distinguished Artist
"More Than Just Jewelry"
We are excited to celebrate non-profit organization The Women of Pader Uganda (TWOPU) and The Bead Project. While on a mission to Pader in 2013, Holly Holt Williamson was inspired to help and created TWOPU and introduced The Bead Project to offer employment to women in the region displaced by a previous war. The women involved in The Bead Project started out using what they had access to at the time, paper, and have evolved into using new materials like glass, braided fabric, and metals to craft a range of recognizable jewelry. Visit www.thewomenofpaderuganda.org to learn more about the women of The Bead Project.
Donations can also be made through this website.
Contact Info:
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Website: www.thewomenofpaderuganda.org
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Instagram: @thewomenofpaderuganda
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Facebook: @thewomenofpaderuganda
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES
Learn more about becoming a Sponsor or Underwriter Today by Clicking the Links Below
TIME FOR TEA
Become a Sponsor or Underwriter for the Tea & Me Party or the Afternoon Tea
2024 Sponsors
Roar with excitement!
Explorer Extraordinaire
Karmen & Billy Bryant
Wilderness Wonderer
Patricia Lally Bane | Kay B. Bird | John & Maurine Cox Foundation | Theresa & Ronald Ingram | Lissa Noel Wagner | Eye Center of Midland
Adventure Seeker
Holly & James Blakemore | Julia Z. Edwards | Rosalind Redfern Grover | Monica Musar | Henry Resources, LLC | Jordan & Karl Rundgren | Sarana Savage | Marcia & Trey Walker
Sahara Tourist
Deborah & Earl Baldridge | John Cooper | Mary B. Kennedy | Randee & Jack Rathbone | Janet & Tony Sam | Pam & Gary Saunders | Shelly & Chip Smith
Safari Apprentice
Vandergriff Group Architects | Cliffie & Barry Beal Jr. | Stephen Beggs | Kirk Boyd | Kara & Daniel Bryant | Douglas H. Christensen | Elizabeth Cook | Leslie Margaret Dean | Mary Anne & Bill Dingus | Stephanie Feagan | Catherine S. Graham | Terry & Bruce Gilmour | Amanda & Steven Golembieski | Jeff Hernandez | Barbara Holeva | Carla & Danny Holeva | Joanie Holt | Melissa Hooper | Pam Inskeep | Dee & Giles Kemp | Karen S. Lanier | Shelby & Brooks Landgraf | Kimberly & Gabriel McClelland | Deborah McGee | Margaret Morgan Purvis | Meera Ramoutar | Stephanie Rivas | Michele & David Rogers | Laci Stretcher | Violet & Mark Singh | Jane Wolf | Laurie Williams | Claire & Jim Woodcock | Rebecca Yarborough
IN-KIND SPONSORS
Bush Convention Center | City of Midland | Community National Bank
UNDERWRITERS
Balloons by Harlin
Mary Beth Anton & Jeffrey D. Hewett
Distinguished Artist Poster
Randee & Jack Rathbone
Art Experiences
Julia Z. Edwards
Children's Face Painters
Stacy & Jim Geitgey
2024 juried artists
Embark on an Exotic Journey!
First Place: Boz Droca, Paintings, Houston, TX
Second Place: Jerrod Inskeep, Photography, Midland, TX
Third Place: Bonnie Siebert, Mixed Media, Woodson, TX
Honor Mention: Bonnie Griffin, Sculpture, Los Lunas, NM
Baskin Memorial Award: Burl Washington, Painting, Fort Worth, TX
Odette Bogan, Jewelry, Houston, TX
Patricia Boyles, Mixed Media, Granbury, TX
Cory Carlson, Paintings, Ruston, LA
Kate Carlson, Leather, El Paso, TX
Lauraglen Carlson, Jewelry, Ruston, LA
Tallie Craigo, Jewelry, Midland, TX
Suzanne Darte, Glass, Farmersville, TX
Kathy Davies, Ceramics, Slaton, TX
Erich DeSchepper, Jewelry, El Paso, TX
Linda Donaho, Photography, McKinney, TX
Joe Eby, Jewelry, Canyon Lake, TX
Dee Elliott, Photography, Mineral Wells, TX
Monica Fallini, Paintings, Valley View, TX
Sandy Forrest-Hartman, Jewelry, San Antonio, TX
Debe Frazer, Glass, Little Elm, TX
Gary Frisk, Paintings, Richmond, TX
Bettine Godwin, Paintings, Hemphill, TX
Essie Graham, Mixed Media, Plano, TX
Brenda Guajardo, Fiber, Liberty Hill, TX
Phyllis Gunderson, Paintings, Pecos, NM
Acayla Haile, Paintings, San Marcos, TX
Alton Hallmark, Paintings, Anson, TX
Anna Whitlock Henry, Jewelry, Lubbock, TX
Suzanne Horner, Ceramics, San Angelo, TX
Elizabeth Jenkins, Fiber, Taos, NM
Alice Johnson, Jewelry, Buda, TX
Gary Kosmas, Ceramics, San Angelo, TX
Andy Loftis, Drawing, Cypress, TX
Denise Malm, Mixed Media, Midland, TX
Karen May, Paintings, Midlothian, TX
David Mercado, Mixed Media, Austin, TX
Nancy Michael-Susaneck, Mixed Media, Missouri City, TX
Janvier Ngamije, Fiber, Lewisville, TX
Melissa Orsini, Jewelry, Little Rock, AR
Amelia Perry, Jewelry, Richmond, TX
Grace Pinotti, Paintings, Southlake, TX
Robert Priddy, Photography, Mullin, TX
Virginia Peacock, Jewelry, Califon, NJ
Les Purcella, Metal, Roswell, NM
Brandon Rhodes, Wood, North Richland Hills, TX
Jamie Rood, Mixed Media, Austin, TX
Cheryl Roush, Paintings, Midland, TX
Owen Salisbury, Jewelry, Amarillo, TX
Erin Sansoucy, Paper, Leawood, KS
Jeffrey Schult, Paintings, Mount Pleasant, MO
J. Scott, Mixed Media, Troup, TX
Kim Shaklee, Sculpture, Brighton, CO
Scot Sheppard, Wood, Big Spring, TX
Angie Spears, Drawing, Houston, TX
Donny Spencer, Drawing, Weatherford, TX
Fred Tate, Jewelry, Austin, TX
Jim Tucker, Paintings, Richardson, TX
Janet Waldrop, Jewelry, Flint, TX
Carrie Ward, Paintings, Allen, TX
Nancy Wilson, Jewelry, Austin, TX