The public and members of the Hornet Nation family are invited to attend the inaugural "ART2 Wellness Festival" on Friday, May 10. The event is sponsored by Alabama State University's College of Visual and Performing Arts (COVPA) and others. The purpose is sharing the collaboration of aligning resources to transform communities through the arts. The festival, which is partially funded through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, will take place at Montgomery's Riverwalk Amphitheater from 2 - 6 p.m.

The event is free and features vendors from the health and artistic communities that will contribute music, interactive health connections and prizes. Food trucks will be on site, serving a variety of tasty fare. The first 100 attendees will receive tickets for free food from the food trucks, along with t-shirts, and other “swag.”

 

Dr. Wendy R. Coleman, dean of ASU’s COVPA, explained that the festival offers therapeutic wellness activities in dance and movement, music, theatre and the visual arts.

 

“We’re so excited about this opportunity to share the therapeutic and healing power of the arts,” said Dean Coleman. “The highlight of the day will be the creation of

 

Dr. Wendy R. Coleman, dean of ASU's College of Visual and Performing Arts (contributed).

 

Montgomery's Wellness Mural, which will be an artistic tribute to health professionals in the River Region. We want the entire community to come help us create and debut it.” 

 

ASU's College of Visual and Performing Arts faculty members will help lead events, along with others from the community, including co-sponsors from the City of Montgomery, Jackson Hospital, Jackson Employee Wellness, and the She Looks Like Me non-profit.

 

“This is our inaugural festival and we really want residents from the City of Montgomery and the River Region to come experience the connection between the arts and wellness,” stated Dean Coleman. “Our world needs the light, hope and joy that can be experienced through dance, music, theatre, and the visual arts." 

 

For more information about the event contact: wrcoleman@alasu.edu

 

News media contact: Kenneth Mullinax, 334-229-4104.

 

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