The annual fund drive for the Waupaca Fine Arts Festival began this past week with a mailing campaign to supporters of the cultural arts in Waupaca.
The Festival Committee Board has approved a working budget of $44,600 for the 2012 season. Of that amount, the board is seeking to raise more than $17,000 through donations to support the events of the festival.
The success of the fund drive helps keep ticket prices affordable and festival events open to larger audiences. As art groups all over the United States need financial support from individuals, businesses and private industry, so does the Waupaca Fine Arts Festival.
The festival asks area residents to consider a donation to help support these arts programs.
Patrons are listed as donors over $150, Benefactors as $100 to $149, Donors as $50 to $99, and Contributors as donors of less than $50.
Those who contribute more than $250 will be listed as underwriters for all three main events, which include the community choir, the art show and the community theatre.
Gifts must be received by March 9 to be included in the printed program. Checks can be mailed to: Waupaca Fine Arts Festival, P.O. Box 55, Waupaca, WI 54981.
Visit www.fineartsfestival.org for event information throughout the year and to make contributions via Pay Pal.
Next year marks the 49th anniversary of the Waupaca Fine Arts Festival.
Throughout the years, the festival has brought and sponsored many cultural events to the city of Waupaca.
The festival’s various cultural events have reached an audience of thousands of people and helped them grow in the appreciation of the arts.
The activities of the festival have given citizens of Waupaca and the surrounding area an opportunity to develop their talent as singers, musicians, artists and actors.
Waupaca is an outstanding city for many reasons. Many things make it the great city it is, and the Fine Arts Festival is one of those contributing factors.
Waupaca has been good to the Fine Arts Festival, and the Festival has been good to Waupaca.
The 49th anniversary is a milestone for Waupaca and the Fine Arts Festival.
Chairman Dan Wolfgram said, “The Fine Arts Festival has been here and thriving for nearly 50 years. What an honor to be a part of this historical organization that has brought so much to the city of Waupaca.
“While we realize that there are other arts organizations in the city, and in the greater Waupaca area, we are thankful that The Fine Arts Festival has paved the trail for the foundation of having an arts community.”
The upcoming 49th Fine Arts Festival presents a program of varied cultural events.
The Festival will open with the annual Community Choir and Civic Orchestra Concert.
This year, the choir, which is under the direction of Wolfgram, hopes to return in record number to perform Franz Schubert’s “Mass in A Flat” and John Rutter’s “Magnificat.”
Soloists for the performance will feature Waupaca natives Holly Saunders, Andrea Fuss and Eric Neuville.
The concert will be held on Sunday, April 1 in the Waupaca High School Performing Arts Center.
As part of the Fine Arts Festival, the MacDowell Male Chorus, of Appleton, will also perform a concert on Sunday, April 22 at the high school.
The Waupaca Art Show will be presented at the Waupaca Expo Center from April 29 to May 4, featuring artists and styles in every genre.
The popular Premiere Night will return on Friday, April 28, providing beverages and music.
During the last weekend in July and the first weekend in August, the Waupaca Community Theatre and Waupaca Children’s Theatre will combine efforts to close the Fine Arts Festival season with six performances of the musical, “The Wizard of Oz.”
It will directed by Saunders, at the high school Performing Arts Center.