The Fine Arts Festival of Waupaca is seeking donations for its 2012 programs.
For nearly 50 years, the organization has sponsored a spring concert, a summer musical and an art show.
These events give hundreds of area residents an opportunity to participate in the arts. They also give the entire community an opportunity to experience a level of performing arts seldom seen in small towns.
The festival’s success and creativity is measured by its financial support, according to Dan Wolfgram, chairman of the festival’s executive board.
It does not receive funding from the state of Wisconsin or any other entity.
This year, the Fine Arts Festival’s annual fund drive has not yielded what is needed to sustain these programs.
Those who have not already responded to the fund drive are asked to consider giving a gift to the Fine Arts Festival of Waupaca.
Help is needed to help bring the creative arts to the Waupaca area and to maintain the Festival.
Contributions are welcomed throughout the year and are tax deductible, if they are itemized.
All contributions of $250 or more will be listed as Underwriters for all three main events, in the annual program.
In addition, the contributor’s name or business will also be listed as a Patron of the Fine Arts Festival and represent the largest group of supporters.
Patrons are listed as donors over $150, Those who give $100 to $149 are listed as Benefactors. Donors are those who give between $50 and $99, and Contributors are those who give donations that are less than $50.
Gifts must be received by March 18 to be included in the printed program.
Checks should be mailed to the Waupaca Fine Arts Festival, PO Box 55, Waupaca, WI 54981.
The Fine Arts Festival of Waupaca has existed in the Waupaca community for just about 50 years.
In that time, countless individuals have had the opportunity to have their lives touched through one of the programs.
The Festival sponsors the Waupaca Community Theatre, the Waupaca Community Chorus and the Waupaca Annual Art Show.
The upcoming 49th Fine Arts Festival presents a program of varied cultural events.
The Festival will open on Sunday, April 1 with the annual Community Choir and Civic Orchestra Concert, in the Waupaca High School Performing Arts Center.
This year, the choir, under the direction of Dan Wolfgram, hopes to return in record numbers to perform Franz Schubert’s Mass in A Flat and John Rutter’s Magnificat.
Featured soloists for the performance will be Waupaca natives Holly Saunders, Andrea Fuss and Eric Neuville.
As part of the Fine Arts Festival, the MacDowell Male Chorus of Appleton will also perform a concert on Sunday, April 22, at Waupaca High School.
The Waupaca Art Show will be presented at the Waupaca Expo Center from April 29 through May 4 and will feature artists and styles in every genre.
Its Premiere Night will return on Friday, April 28, providing beverages and music.
On the last weekend of July and the first weekend of August, the Waupaca Community Theatre and Waupaca Children’s Theatre will combine efforts to close the Fine Arts Festival’s season with six performances of the musical, “The Wizard of Oz.”
It will be directed by Holly Saunders, at the high school’s Performing Arts Center.
For event information throughout the year, visit the Festival’s website at www.fineartsfestival.org.