Scituate Arts Festival
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Description
Scituate Art Festival is an annual outdoor juried arts show and festival in Smithville – North Scituate, Rhode Island|North Scituate, Rhode Island.
The festival was founded in 1967 as a fundraiser to restore the Old Congregational Church (North Scituate, Rhode Island). The festival is held annually on the church grounds, and over time has expanded onto North Scituate's village green. <ref>Kate Bramson. "Scituate prepares for thousands arriving for Arts Festival." Providence Journal (RI), All ed., sec. breaking_news, 9 Oct. 2009. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/1524246EC8795790. Accessed 22 Feb. 2020.</ref>
The festival has grown to exhibit the work of over 300 artists, including painters, sculptors, photographers and craftspeople. In 2019 had an expected attendance of 100,000 people.<ref>Gray, Channing. "Fall Guide: Scituate Art Festival a draw for over 50 years." Providence Journal: Web Edition Articles (RI), sec. Special, 22 Sept. 2019. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/17623D6BA46EE398. Accessed 23 Feb. 2020.</ref> In addition to the art exhibited, the festival features a raffle, historic tours, music performances. A portion of the profits of the festival goes to maintain the Old Congregational Church, and the festival also provides grants, or donations from the festival to local non-profit organizations. <ref>"Art festival profits town groups and the white church that started it all." Valley Breeze & Observer, The (Smithfield, RI), sec. News, 6 Oct. 2011. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/13A36BD6C5631EB0. Accessed 23 Feb. 2020.</ref>
The festival was also part of the inspiration for the Pawtucket Arts Festival<ref>SHEA-TAYLOR, BETSY. "Pawtucket Arts Festival celebrates its 10th year." Call, The (Woonsocket, RI), sec. Pawtucket Arts Festival, 31 Aug. 2008, p. D4. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/122F7D5F4714A328. Accessed 19 Feb. 2020.</ref>.