Calling all artists, artisans, creatives and craftspeople of all trades. Applications are now being accepted for Christmas Connection 2023. The two-day event will take place November 10-11 at the Meadowview Conference Resort and Convention Center.
“The Christmas Connection – Artistic Creations Fair” is sponsored by the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts and is celebrating its 44th year of artistic creations. The event hosts the region’s best craftspeople, artisans, artists, and creatives. People from our region and beyond look forward to the Christmas Connection year after year.
Application deadline is July 1, 2023, and there is no cost to apply. Christmas Connection is by invitation only. All applications are reviewed by a selection committee, taking various factors into consideration to create a high quality, attractive show having a good mix of artistic and craft creations.
2023 DATES/HOURS:
Free admission to the public
Fri. Nov. 10: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 11: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
To access the vendor application from the city website, and for more information visit https://bit.ly/43xL6WU.
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/CC_logo.23Circle-01.png800800Beth Estephttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngBeth Estep2023-06-01 09:57:192023-06-01 09:59:42Deadline July 1st! Apply to the 44th Annual Christmas Connection – Artistic Creations Fair
FOR KINGSPORT, TN The Rotary Club Sculpture at Brickyard Park
The Rotary Club of Kingsport, TN, in collaboration with the Kingsport Public Art Committee, Edens Investment, and Barge Design Solutions, Inc., is seeking qualifications from artists or art teams for the commission of a centennial sculpture to commemorate the every-day heroes of the community at the traffic circle currently in development for the Brickyard Village.
ELIGIBILITY: This opportunity is open to all professional artists over the age of 18 with previous public sculpture experience. Refer to the Selection Criteria listed below for additional requirements.
BUDGET: Up to three finalists will be selected to develop concept proposals for this project. The total project budget for the selected commission is not to exceed $50,000. Each finalist will be paid a $500 stipend for his/her proposal. The selected artist/art team will be paid up to $48,500 for the commissioned work. The selected artist/art team will be responsible for own travel costs, materials, housing, and personal liability insurance. Finalists will be required to present their work to the Selection Committee and will not be reimbursed for travel costs or hotel accommodations. If a finalist prefers to present their concept proposal virtually, then arrangements will be made to do so.
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/06/RFQ_brickyardPark.png8001128Beth Estephttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngBeth Estep2022-06-28 14:23:342023-01-20 13:33:03Call for Qualifications – the Sculpture at Brickyard Park
OPEN CALL for Art and Craft Vendors for Christmas Connection 2022!
Kingsport, TN – Calling all artists, artisans, creatives, and craftspeople of all trades! Applications are being taken for those wishing to exhibit in this 2-day event, taking place on November 11th & 12th, 2022 at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium.
“The Christmas Connection – Artistic Creations Fair” is sponsored by the City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts and is celebrating its 43rd year of artistic creations in 2022! A very well established cultural event in Kingsport, the event hosts the region’s best craftspeople, artisans, artists, and creatives. People from our region and beyond look forward to The Christmas Connection year after year.
Application deadline is July 1, 2022. There is no cost to apply. Christmas Connection is by invitation only. All applications are reviewed by a selection committee, taking various factors into consideration in order to create a high quality, attractive show having a good mix of artistic and crafting creations.
This year’s Christmas Connection will take place the second weekend in November, due to elections being held at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium.
2022 DATES/HOURS:
FREE Admission to the public!
Fri. Nov. 11: 10AM – 7PM
Sat. Nov. 12: 10AM – 7PM
Applications deadline is July 1, 2022.
Here is a link to download the 2022 application packet:
The Office of Cultural Arts (OCA), part of the City of Kingsport, connects, coordinates and engages the public with a creative community. We operate the Renaissance Arts Center, the Farmer’s Market, the Kingsport Carousel, Kingsport Public Art Program, Engage Kingsport Performing Arts Series, and a broad range of support to the area’s arts organizations. The OCA works in tandem with Engage Kingsport, Inc., the “Friends of the Cultural Arts” group, a private, volunteer-led 501(c)3 non-profit community organization.
About the City of Kingsport
Founded in 1917, the City of Kingsport (pop. 53,000) is located on the Tennessee-Virginia border at the crossroads of I-81 and I-26 near the geographic center of the eastern U.S. The city is widely known as a planned community, designed by renowned city planner John Nolen and wrapping around the foot of Bays Mountain – a 3,500 acre park, nature preserve, planetarium and observatory. Kingsport is recognized as an International Safe Community by the National Safety Council, a Healthier Tennessee community, and won the 2009 Harvard Innovations in American Government Award for its higher education initiatives. While many city names are duplicated throughout the U.S., there’s only one Kingsport – a fact that invokes community pride, known locally as the “Kingsport Spirit.”
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/03/RevisedMtnEscapes_CC22.quarterpageAD-01-01.png14641329Beth Estephttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngBeth Estep2022-06-06 12:00:082022-12-05 15:40:59Open Call for Vendors for The 2022 Christmas Connection!
UPDATE! Due to heavy rain and wind, the start time will be delayed today, working around the rain. Thank you for your patience! The sculpture artists will begin around 1:00 to start heating up the furnace. Master Sculpture Artist, Jim Gallucci will be on hand to narrate and explain the process during the next couple hours. 3:00 is the new estimate on actual pour time!
You don’t want to miss being a part of this! The 2022 Kingsport Iron Pour will take place on Saturday, May 7th, 2022, with workshops taking place in the weeks prior. See below for details.
The 2022 Kingsport, TN Iron Pour… using white-hot iron! FLAMES & FAMILY FUN!
You’re not just invited to watch, you’re invited to make your own art. On Saturday, May 7th, the furnace will roar, crackle, flame, and spark with power and excitement! Join us for an iron pour demonstration conducted by Sculpture artist Tripp Jarvis and a team of master sculptors as they heat 500 pounds of iron until it’s white hot, then pour it into molds made in the Scratch Mold Workshop. Let the fireworks begin!
To watch, it’s free! To participate by creating your own scratch mold, it’s only $15. Thru one of the scratch mold workshops, you can create your own piece of Iron Art! See the details below to sign up!
On Saturday, May 7th, at 12 Noon, the sculpture team will begin heating up the iron! Join us at 12 Noon on Saturday as the sculpture team narrates the steps of the process of preparing the iron and heating the iron to 3000 degrees! You’ll have the opportunity to ask your questions directly to the master sculpture artists. 1:00 is the projected time to begin the pouring into the scratch molds. Be sure to stay to watch your piece being poured!
Popcorn will be available during the show!
Venue: The Inventor Center 118 Shelby St., Kingsport, Tennessee 37660
Scratch Mold Workshops:
(Classes usually fill up quickly, sign up early for the best slots)
Class option 1: Thursday, April 14, 10:00am – 12 noon
Class option 2: Thursday, April 21, 10:00am – 12 noon
Class option 3: Friday, April 29, 10:00am – 12 noon
Class option 4: Friday, April 29, 6:00pm – 8:00pm (*SOLD OUT*)
Class option 5: Saturday, April 30, 10:00am – 12 noon (*SOLD OUT*)
Class option 6: Friday, May 6, 10:00am – 12 noon
Class option 7: Friday, May 6, 6:00pm – 8:00pm (*SOLD OUT*)
Class option 8: Saturday, May 7th, 10:00am – 12 noon (*SOLD OUT*)
(This is the morning of the Iron Pour event. All molds must be completed no later than 12:30pm)
Scratch Mold Example
Workshop Details:
Create your own iron artwork by making a Scratch Mold. Suitable for beginners and students of all skill level, you’ll scratch unique designs into an 8-inch sand mold which will be cast with molten iron by professional artists during the main event (held on Saturday, May 7th). At the end of the night, take home your one-of-a-kind art. The workshop cost includes all materials needed for the workshop and the casting of your piece in iron on May 7th during the main event. Rain or shine. Advance registration required. $15 scratch block mold. Adults 16+, Ages 6-15 are welcome to participate if accompanied by an adult.
Every one of all ages, is invited to watch the Iron Pour for free on Saturday May 7th! The show starts at 12noon, with the pouring taking place approximately 1:00pm.
Please call the Office of Cultural Arts with any questions: 423-392-8414 More information online: www.EngageKingsport.com
This Scratch Mold Workshop and Iron Pour is hosted by Engage Kingsport and the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts at the Inventor Center located at 118 Shelby Street. The Kingsport Iron Pour is made possible by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. Thank you TAC!
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/03/EventBrite22.png7501500Beth Estephttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngBeth Estep2022-03-22 17:44:442022-07-06 16:06:55(Delayed Start Time!) The 2022 Iron Pour in Kingsport, TN … using white-hot iron!
The Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts is looking for regional and local artists to be featured in the new city hall main lobby. Art submissions will be entered into an artist database and future exhibits at the new city hall will draw from this database of submissions. Exhibits will be temporary, lasting one month to three months. If you would like to be considered for exhibiting your work, you may submit via email or mail a packet to the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts.
When submitting your work, please include the following information, along with 5-9 photos of your work and a copy of your artist statement.
Subject line of your email: “City Hall + [Your last name]”
Please include all of the following information in the body of your email:
Name:
Company Name (if applicable):
Phone Number:
Email address:
Type of Art (Art Medium):
How many pieces do you have available to exhibit?
Have you exhibited your artwork before? If so, where?
Please attach the following items to your email:
Your Artist Statement (If you have one.)
5-9 pictures of your work (Please make sure your images are a small enough file size to send through email if choosing this option. Do not exceed 12MB per email)
If mailing, please include all application info, a copy of your artist statement and 5-9 pictures of your work. Mail your submission packet to the address below:
City of Kingsport, Office of Cultural Arts
1200 East Center Street
Kingsport, TN 37660
For more information about submitting art for the new city hall gallery, please email KingsportArtEntry@gmail.com or call 423-392-8414.
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2020/12/gallerydrawing.NewCityHall_c.png18241799Beth Estephttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngBeth Estep2020-12-31 11:15:122020-12-31 11:21:18Now Accepting Applications for New City Hall Gallery
Renaissance Arts Center & Theatre