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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 39th 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!  

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Premiere Party:  Friday, July 21, 2023  |  7 - 10PM  |  Ticketed Event
Festival Day: Saturday, July 22, 2023  |  10AM - 5PM  |  Free Admission
Festival Day: Sunday, J
uly 23, 2023  |  Noon - 5PM  |  Free Admission

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Come one, Come all! Get your tickets and join us on the evening of July 21 for a three-ring good time of pure entertainment at our Premier Party! Enjoy a wide assortment of heavy hors d’ oeuvres and adult beverages including a Carnival Cosmo! Everyone is an artist, waiting for their turn to perform.  Swing into the visual artists “big top” 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!

 

We are excited to celebrate native Midlander, Austin resident Baron Wilson, as our 2023 Distinguished Artist! Baron produces fine art paintings ranging from Texas regional landscapes, still-life, abstracts, and architectural landmarks. Make sure to stop by his booth!

SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES

Learn more about becoming a Sponsor or Underwriter Today by Clicking the Links Below

2023 Sponsors

The Greatest Show on eARTh!

Ringmaster

Karmen & Billy Bryant

 

Human Cannonball

Kay Bird

Lissa Noel Wagner

 

Trapeze Artist

Community National Bank

EJ Baldridge IV

Casey Carson

Frost Bank

Rosalind Redfern Grover

Julia Z. Edwards

Midland College Foundation, Inc.

The Bosworth Company

Marcia & Trey Walker

 

Strong Man

Karen & Spencer Beal

Holly & Jim Blakemore

Janet & Tony Sam

Pam & Gary Saunders

Shelly & Chip Smith

Carolyn Roden

Monica Musar

 

Magician

Kay Arrell | Deborah & Earl Baldridge III | Nellwyn & Bradley Barnett | Scott Betton | Kirk Boyd | Kara & Daniel Bryant | Campbell Securities, LLC | Mary de Compiegne | Leslie Margaret Dean | Stephanie & Mike Feagan | Cathy & Harry Graham | Marianne Green | Mary R. Griffith | Elizabeth Grisby | Kari & Tim Hair | Joanie Holt | Carla & Danny Holeva | Melissa Hooper | Dee & Giles Kemp | Shelby Landgraf | Ryan Latham | Karen S Lanier | Kimberly & Gabriel McClelland | Melissa & Martin McHale | Kaye & Bill Musar | Zahir Noormohamed | Megan & Joel Revis | Jorden & Karl Rundgren | Sibley Nature Center | Laci Stretcher | Thriving United, Inc. | Violet & Mark Singh | Claudette & Tulsi Dyal Singh M.D. | Laurie Williams | Katie Weldon | Jane Wolf

 

In-Kind Sponsors

Bush Convention Center | City of Midland | Community National Bank | Fox24 | KMID | KOSA | KWEST | Midland Reporter-Telegram | Rhotenberry Wellen Architects

2023 UNDERWRiTERs

Come one, Come all!

Harlin the Balloon Man

Mary Beth Anton & Jeff Hewett

 

Distinguished Artist Poster

Victoria Saxe

2023 juried artists

The Best under the Big Top

Congrats to the 2023 winning artistans!

First Place – Marilyn Endres | Driftwood, TX

Second Place – Krysteen Waszak | Albuquerque, NM

Third Place - Boz Droca | Houston, TX

Honorable Mention – Owen Salisbury | Amarillo, TX

Joan Baskin Memorial Prize – David Mercado | Austin, TX

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Thank you to all of our participants!

Julia Ambrose | Austin, TX

Sheiyenne Baloo-Seegmiller | Blanco, TX

Kimberly Bowen | Parker, CO

Kathy Davies | Slaton, TX

Laurie Dellis | Amarillo, TX

Cassandra Dixon | Oklahoma City, OK

Boz Droca | Houston, TX

Marilyn Endres | Driftwood, TX

Gary Frisk | Richmond, TX

Delton Gerdes | Katy, TX

John Glass | Deming, NM

Holly Glenn | Liberty Hill, TX

Karen Granfeldt | Lubbock, TX

Dennis Guffey | Dalhart, TX

Neil Gunn | El Paso, TX

Stephen Hackley | Richardson, TX

Erin Harris | May, TX

Anna Whitlock Henry | Lubbock, TX

Tif Holmes | Lubbock, TX

Laurie Huff | Rockwall, TX

Steve Hunsicker | Bulverde, TX

Alice Johnson | Buda, TX

George Jones | Little Elm, TX

Pat Klamm | Ennis, TX

Boubakary Konseimbo | Santa Fe, NM

Dr Eric Lundgren | Holly Hill, FL

Denise Malm | Midland, TX

Mary Meier | Cameron, TX

David Mercado | Austin, TX

Ryan Minchew | Midland, TX

Pama Monfries | Lago Vista, TX

Jim Monfries | Point Venture, TX

Nara Montuy | Lovington, NM

Victoria Newton | Round Rock, TX

Melissa Orsini | Little Rock, AR

Virginia Peacock | Califon, NJ

Janet Pontious | Midland, TX

Aaron Porter | Pflugerville, TX

Robert Priddy | Mullin, TX

Homero Rivera | Oklahoma City, OK

Owen Salisbury | Amarillo, TX

Kim Shaklee | Brighton, CO

Scot Sheppard | Big Spring, TX

Sandy Shiroma | Arlington, TX

Katie Shoaf | Austin, TX

Bonnie Siebert | Woodson, TX

Donny Spencer | Weatherford, TX

Fred Tate | Austin, TX

Jeannette Teel | Allen, TX

Karen Tenny | Midland, TX

Krysteen Waszak | Albuquerque, NM

Sharon Webb | Fort Worth, TX

Nancy Wilson | Austin, TX

Heather Wobbe | New Ulm, TX

Sumittra Wongsaprome | Arlington, TX

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