The annual New Smyrna Beach arts tradition celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, attracting more than 250 artists from across the country.
Image: The arts festival is expected to draw more than 50,000 attendees during the three-day event starting Friday afternoon. Visitors can browse pottery, fiber art, jewelry, paintings, photography, sculpture, and more.
The event will take over surrounding streets, including several blocks of Riverside Park and Canal Street. The festival, hosted by the Atlantic Center for the Arts, generates more than $4 million in economic impact.
Ranked the 18th best arts festival in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine, Images offers $30,000 in cash prizes to artists and a robust patronage program called “Doris Dollars” for the purchase of art.
This year’s featured artist and poster is Anna Tomczak, one of the first artists to exhibit at Images. Her photographs are created not only of people but also of found objects such as plants, memorabilia, and artifacts.
Images was founded in 1976 by environmental activist and artist Doris Leeper, who founded the Atlantic Center for the Arts, and a group of dedicated volunteers. The festival, which attracted ACA’s early supporters, was held just before the ACA Center established its artist-in-residence program.
In addition to viewing and purchasing visual art, festival guests can experience live entertainment, browse food trucks, enjoy beer and wine gardens, and find educational activities for kids.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Images Festival, ACA’s Arts on Douglas Fine Art Gallery marks 30 years since its transformation from a 1920s Ford showroom to an exhibition space. This gallery features contemporary paintings, sculpture, ceramics, photography, and jewelry by more than 40 artists.
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If you go
Image: The Arts Festival will be held at Riverside Drive and Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach on January 23 from 1 a.m. to 5 p.m., January 24 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and January 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The festival is free and open to the public. We recommend leaving your pet at home. For more information, including parking directions, visit imagesartfestival.org.
