The Gulfport Fine Arts Festival celebrates 10 years of fine art & contemporary craft this February 8th – 9th in the intimate setting of Clymer Park. The event is hosted by the Gulfport Merchants Chamber of Commerce (GMC) and lasts from 10 am to 5 pm each day.
This year’s Fine Art Festival was relocated to Clymer Park from its traditional home in Veterans Park due to the recent hurricanes. The event will be the largest in Gulfport since last season’s damaging storms, and the artists and residents in Gulfport are looking forward to celebrating the recovery and rebuilding seen throughout the bayfront town.
The boutique festival welcomes artists in all mediums, with several artists making the annual journey to the event for its intimate gathering, the caliber of the buyers, and the opportunity to show in Gulfport, a town known for its creative expression. The festival has become a haven for art connoisseurs, bringing together a carefully curated selection of juried artists each winter to the largest annual arts event in Gulfport.
Awards are handed out on Sunday, and recent Best in Show winners have represented a wide range of mediums, including sculpture, mixed-media art, painting, and fiber art. The event will include this year’s Rise & Shine Emerging Artist Scholarship winners Anne Lancaster and David Feldman. The annual scholarship is awarded by the GMC to emerging artists who’ve shown the creativity and aptitude of taking their art to the next level.
Over 50 artists will show their works in Clymer Park’s cozy 1.5-acre setting, itself decorated throughout by art crafted by renowned Florida artists. The park is also home to Gulfport’s Food Forest, an artfully decorated wildlife enhancement and community food gathering place. From Clymer Park, it’s only steps to Gulfport’s bustling historic downtown district on Beach Boulevard South, filled with shops, restaurants, and galleries. As with all visits to Gulfport, parking is free throughout the town.
The Gulfport Fine Arts Festival has been the jewel of Gulfport’s blossoming arts scene for a decade, and this year’s event includes expanded offerings to mark the special occasion. While the northern block of Clymer Park serves as the showcase event for artists and visitors, the park’s southern block will feature an array of immersive creative activities for the entire family. Live music will greet visitors to the event on each day, and the nationally acclaimed Gulfport Gecko Amalgamated Marching Band will perform for guests on Sunday. Vendors will be on-hand with refreshments for the crowds and artists throughout the event.
For more information on the event, visit the event’s homepage at visitgulfportflorida.com/fine-arts-festival and follow the GMC’s social media @VisitGulfportFL.
