City of Louisville, KY
07/01/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/01/2022 10:32
Louisville Parks and Recreation’s Art in the Park returns for its third year, partnering with Kentucky Shakespeare
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (July 1, 2022) - Louisville Parks and Recreation's Art in the Park returns for its third year this month in celebration of Park and Recreation Month - an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to promote strong, vibrant and resilient communities through the power of parks and recreation.
This year, Louisville Parks and Recreation is partnering with Kentucky Shakespeare to help bring focus to all mediums of art. Arts and crafts activity stations in addition to a mini art show will be a part of Art in the Park, taking place July 21 in Louisville's very own Central Park, designed by The Olmsted Brothers.
Art in the Park will kick off at 5 p.m. with arts and crafts activities for those of all ages to enjoy. Grecian Mama Food Truck and Froggy's Popcorn will be on site at 6 p.m., which is also the start of the mini art show - those interested in participating can sign-up here; more details are listed below. To round out the evening, Kentucky Shakespeare will share a hilarious performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor with the community at Central Park's amphitheater at 8 p.m., a part of the 62nd Shakespeare Festival in the park.
"We believe the arts belong to everyone, and we work constantly to make theatre accessible and inclusive. We're delighted to be a longtime partner with Louisville Metro Government and Parks and Recreation to bring free arts experiences to our community all summer-long through the annual free Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in Central Park," said Kentucky Shakespeare's Producing Artistic Director, Matt Wallace.
"Kentucky Shakespeare is so grateful the community understands and values the impact of the arts, and we're looking forward to this Art in the Park event coming to Central Park creating a new cultural tradition," he added.
Other Shakespeare Festival activities in Central Park include Kids' Globe, Will's Gift Shop and Will's Tavern, each beginning at 7 p.m. and running through the course of the performance.
July was deemed National Park and Recreation Association (NRPA) month by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009 and for the first time ever, Mayor Fischer has proclaimed July as Park and Recreation month in Louisville. The 2022 theme set forth by the NRPA is "We Rise Up for Parks and Recreation."
"The services that Louisville Parks and Recreation professionals provide are vital for our community - from protecting open spaces and natural resources to helping fight obesity and providing activities and resources for all people," said Mayor Fischer. "We're looking forward to the third Art in the Park to highlight our wonderful parks system while also showcasing the vibrant arts community in our city. And, a special thanks to our partners at Kentucky Shakespeare who work to bring the art of theatre to our parks each summer."
Residents are also encouraged to celebrate Park and Recreation month by visiting one of Louisville's 120+ public parks and amenities. To find a park near you, visit bestparksever.com
Mini Art Show details:
The theme for the Mini Art Show is "We Rise Up for Parks and Recreation," which is the National Recreation and Park Association's 2022 theme for Park and Recreation Month. Artwork should reflect experiences, memories and stories about what parks and recreation means to the artist personally.
All artwork should be created on a 4"x6" (or smaller) flat panel canvas only and can be any medium.
Louisville Parks and Recreation requests that no glitter or un-fixed charcoal or pastel be used.
There will be three age categories: ages 1 - 6, ages 7 - 17 and 18+.
Artists can enter up to two submissions and artwork can be dropped off or mailed to the Parks Administrative Office located at 1297 Trevilian Way 40213, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All artwork should be marked with the artist's name and title of the piece.
The deadline for registration and artwork drop-off is July 15 at 4 p.m.
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ABOUT LOUISVILLE PARKS AND RECREATION
Louisville Parks and Recreation, a nationally accredited parks and recreation agency, manages 120 parks and six parkways on more than 13,000 acres of land and operates recreation programs for area residents of all ages and abilities. Since taking office in 2011, Mayor Greg Fischer has been committed to ensuring equity in parks and recreation, including the start of the West Louisville Outdoor Recreation Initiative, the Louisville's Engaging Children Outdoors (ECHO) programming and most recently, becoming the third city in the country to launch an equity review of all Metro-owned parks and facilities. bestparksever.com