Albert Einstein once said, “Creativity is contagious—pass it on.” The ArtsFest event in Statesboro has done just that for 42 years.
ArtsFest began the early 80s as a community outreach effort for the Georgia Southern University Art Department to engage talented faculty members and students with the youth of this community—and to have fun doing it, while creating an awareness of the many types of art. In 2016, GSU’s Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art announced it would no longer host the event.
The Bulloch County Recreation and Parks Department (BCRP), with the help of the University and many other community sponsors and organizations, decided to continue the event with BCRP as host. The event, held in its traditional spot on Sweetheart Circle on the GSU campus, typically sees over 4,000 youth and their families.
In 2025, ArtsFest will once again return to Sweetheart Circle April 26 from 10am until 3pm. There are no admission fees and no parking fees for ArtsFest, and all ages are welcome.
ArtsFest is a day filled with Art Stops, an Artist Market, and a Community Stage with local entertainment. The event celebrates the arts and arts education through performances, exhibiting and demonstrating artists, and hands-on activities and games.
Creative juices will flow through Sweetheart Circle as festival-goers create their own artwork at over 35 Art Stops. With even more community and organizational involvement this year, there will be many new Art Stops alongside community favorites. Art Stops allow participants to explore types, techniques, and mediums of art while learning about various subject matters not always pertaining to fine art.
Patrons can mold creations at the clay factory, create a paint-a-pet rendition of their own furry friends, make their own super hero mask, use a rainbow of watercolors to create one-of-a-kind pieces, get their faces painted, tie dye their souvenir t-shirt that will be available for $5, and so much more—all for the young and the young-at-heart.
Guests can browse through the Artists Market filled with unique creations that will also be available for purchase. Over 50 artists from around the region will be on-site creating their one-of-a-kind pieces. We also have many Georgia Southern student artists involved this year selling their artwork.
On the Community Stage, there will be a variety of local acts including dance teams, solo vocalists, a magic show, and a ballet academy! There will also be inflatables for the children as well as bubble pools and a Paint Place filled with easels and paint just waiting for a masterpiece!
As with any festival, there will be the traditional festival foods such as cotton candy, funnel cakes, hamburgers, hotdogs, ice treats, and much more!
ArtsFest is sponsored by Dabbs, Hickman, Hill and Cannon CPAs and the Kiwanis Club of Statesboro. Many other sponsors and community organizations are also supporting the event through monetary donations, in kind donations, and donations of time and talent.
“Creativity takes courage,” said Henri Matisse, and that is our theme this year. Join us this year on April 26th and enjoy the happiness ArtsFest brings to our community whether this is your first year or just one of many.
For a detailed schedule for the day, please visit www.bullochrec.com/artsfest.
