Warwick Arts Festival 'kickstarting' the 2014 event

WARWICK — Since 2000, The Warwick Summer Arts Festival has been one of Orange County's premiere arts festival featuring music, theater, dance, exhibits, films and readings in locations around the Town of Warwick.

This year's festival is scheduled for July 21 - 27 and organizers are currently fundraising on kickstarter.com. The money collected from this "Kickstarter" campaign we help pay for artist and production fees. For a $25 contribution, donors will receive a festival t-shirt.

Melissa Padham, who performed and choreographed for the past five festivals, recently took over as director of the annual event.

Under the previous direction of Liz Reese, the arts festival had commissioned and presented original works, brought crowds to underused parks, established a performance venue on a farm in the middle of the black dirt region, started a local children's choir, brought great music to Orange County and established an annual storefront art exhibit.

Padham promises to continue and expand this tradition.

"We will present work in several locations and reach audiences of all ages that might not otherwise attend an arts event," she said. "We will offer dance and theater workshops from cultures around the world and host an outdoor independent film festival at the Warwick drive-in."

If it's at all possible, Padham would also like to host the Arts Festival's main event, a culmination of workshops and performances, at the Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center. The festival theme for 2014 is "Universality," a celebration of art as the universal form of expression. The Festival will hold multiple dance, theater and music workshops from various cultures from around the world.

Essential Information:
To make a contribution visit: kickstarter.com

For additional information visit: warwicksummerarts.com

All WSAF events are free to the public with a suggested donation of $10 to $20