44th Lakefront Festival of Arts to showcase 170 artists

MORE THAN 170 leading artists from around the world will showcase and sell their work in Milwaukee June 16-18 at the 44th annual Lakefront Festival of Arts.

Long regarded as one of the nation’s premier art festivals, the three-day event filled with art, activities, entertainment and good food will be held on Father’s Day weekend directly in front of the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Santiago Calatrava-designed addition.

The festival annually attracts more than 50,000 art enthusiasts to view and purchase works of art. Exhibiting artists – some well known and others newly discovered – are selected by a jury and represent a fraction of the large number of artists who apply to participate. The artistic creations showcase a broad spectrum of media such as painting, sculpture, jewelry, photography, printmaking, wood, ceramics and fiber.

“We do our part to start the summer season off right,” says Beth Hoffman, director of Friends of Art Events and Programs. “This year’s festival promises to offer the most interesting in art, fun entertainment, children’s activities and some great food choices.”

The highly successful Lakefront Festival of Arts combines art, entertainment and food to attract both art buffs and entertainment-lovers who are looking for a pleasant way to spend a summer day, this year including Father’s Day. In addition to the displays of original works of art, the festival presents daily lineups of live music ranging from jazz to rhythm and blues. The entertainment schedule also includes dance, performance art, magic and even a strolling fiber-art fashion show featuring works from the festival’s exhibiting artists.

The Lakefront Festival’s hours are noon-8 p.m. Friday, June 16; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, June 17, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, June 18. Admission is $10, with a “special” $8 admission fee on Friday only. Children 16 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Special advance tickets are available for only $7 at a variety of Milwaukee area locations (until the opening of the festival).

Art Museum and Friends of Art (FOA) members receive discounted admission with presentation of their current membership card. Festival visitors will receive free admission to the Milwaukee Art Museum during festival hours. The festival’s major sponsors this year are State Farm Insurance, Nicholas Family Foundation, Miller Brewing Company and Northwestern Mutual Foundation.

The LFOA is presented annually by Friends of Art (FOA), the primary volunteer support organization for the Milwaukee Art Museum. Founded in 1957, FOA raises more than $400,000 each year for the Art Museum. For more information, including advance-ticket locations, visit the LFOA website at lfoa.mam.org or call 414- 224-3854.

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