Saturday, November 13, 2021

Hello to our wonderful Women in the Arts Community!

Your Women in the Arts Committee has been contemplating, discussing, and negotiating different options for the 2021 Festival.

What we know:

• Gathering at Women in the Arts Festival in East Lansing is a highlight of the year for many, and one that was missed in 2020. We’d like to make something happen in 2021!
• We care about our community members and will only host an event that is responsible in terms of reducing risk given the ever-changing realities of COVID-19
• Any decisions made between now and 11/13 can be superseded by policies set forth by local and state entities, as well as our host venue, Edgewood United Church, at any time

In light of the conditions mentioned above, the committee proposes a hyper-local Saturday-only event, including:

• Daystage with open mic and scheduled performers (music, poetry, spoken word). Local performers: contact booking@witafestival.com if you’d like to be part of the lineup
• A smaller-yet-still-vibrant Artist Market, with vendors/artists selected by lottery. Those who apply by September 12th will be entered into a drawing with notification on September 13th, approximately 60 days prior to the event.
• Facebook Artist Market on Marketplace for all artists, whether participating in-person or not. In-person artists can use for pre-orders and Festival pickup.
• Safety precautions: Face coverings required; careful consideration of safe capacity/distancing throughout the venue.

We look forward to seeing you again soon. While the logistics of the 2021 Women in the Arts Festival may be a bit different, the spirit remains the same and our commitment to creating space for creative women to showcase their talents remains steadfast.

Stay safe and well,
The 2021 Women in the Arts Committee
Alicia Bleil, Susan Frazier, Julie Haan, Val Osowski, Kate Peterson, Abby Wattenberg