MANSFIELD — Mansfield residents with an artistic bent are already looking forward to the community-wide annual art festival on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ManAfest’s vocation is to keep local-adjacent artists in Mansfield, where they can create their art for a living.
“People often go to Columbus or Cleveland in the arts, but they won’t have to when we can offer them so much in Mansfield,” said Victoria Hoefler, president of the Mansfield Arts and Culture Sector and the event’s coordinator.
New this year, organizers are dividing the festival into three zones: Crafter and Maker, Fine Arts, and Oddities and Curiosities.
Within each zone will be various food vendors and local restaurants will have their doors open all day for attendees. Additionally, there will be wine for those of age to sip on while enjoying the art.
“A few of our notable musicians this year are the McClans, with their cultural Celtic music, Rom Hemmick, and Clint Knight,” Hoefler said.
For the children, the YMCA will be in charge of the Kids Zone and there will be face-painting with OracleArts.
At the festival, the Fine Arts zone will award the Destination Mansfield award and the Paul McClain Legacy Award for painting.
“Paul McClain is one of the finest painters I’ve met in my life,” Hoefler said. “His wife, Helen, will present the award. It’s a great honor to win.”
Hoefler acknowledged those who have made the event possible since its inception.
“Mind Body Align, which is a part of the Annamarie and Carl Fernyak Foundation, are our biggest supporters every year,” she continued, “as well as Park National, Mechanics Bank, Destination Mansfield, and the City of Mansfield.”
The Mansfield Art Festival is a great opportunity to get involved with the community and show off your art.
“We want to encourage ways for other artists to get involved,” Hoefler said.
In addition to the Art Festival, Mansfield Arts and Culture Sector hosts “ArtTalk” on the first Wednesday of every month at Element of Art.
“It serves as a chance for artists to meet each other, collaborate on things, and share their work beyond the festival.”
Before the big day, on Sept. 20, an event called Poet-Tea at 3rd Cup Tea on Main Street is scheduled to rally people to enjoy some poetry.
Bryan Gladden, an artist involved in RCDG Art Sector since its establishment in the mid-2000s, is coordinating it alongside the owner, Braxton Daniels.
Going on its second year, Poet-Tea is curated to give writer’s a quiet and encouraging environment to share their art.
“To be inclusive in all the arts is what matters,” Gladden said.
He has plans to switch it up from the year before, arranging an open-mic night and handing the decision of who wins over the audience.
As the entire festival garners more attention each year, Hoefler and her sector are ambitious about the future of the festival.
“We hope to ultimately outgrow the square downtown and move it to a larger venue such as Liberty Park,” Hoefler said. “Along with that, a lot of times artists can’t afford to do art as a living.
“We want to offer grants to help them do that.”
Be sure to catch the Mansfield Art Festival: ManAfest late this summer and support your local artists.