It’s 4th of July weekend in Rockport which means it’s time for the 54th Annual Rockport Art Festival hosted by the Rockport Center for the Arts. Since its inauguration in 1969, the festival brings patrons from all around the Coastal Bend to celebrate and collect art from over 120 artists. The festival remains the most lucrative fundraiser of the year allowing for many free to low-cost visual arts and educational programs to continue at The Rockport Center for the Arts.
“The event truly offers an enjoyable festival experience for all. It is both a celebration of creativity and the premier place to collect original works of art in a vast array of media and price points, as well as a casual festival experience for families complete with great food vendors, live music, a beer garden, and children’s activities. Did we mention the big tent has air conditioning?” says Karen Ernst, festival chairman for the Rockport Art Festival.
The traditional commemorative event poster and corresponding giclèe will be available for purchase at The Art Festival Store, featuring a vibrant coastal painting from Corpus Christi’s own Jeffrey Neel McDaniel. The original piece was unveiled at McDaniel’s solo exhibition and will be on auction as the final lot at the Art Auction on July 1st. This 30-year tradition spotlights an artist, selected by a committee, who will join the ranks of a select group of individuals known for their achievements and excellence in the arts, for their engagement and contributions to the Rockport Center for the Arts and for their ability to capture the coastal aesthetic that Rockport and the Rockport Art Festival are recognized for.
The festival will run from July 2nd, from 10 pm – 6 pm, and Sunday, July 3rd, from 10 am – 5 pm at The Festival Grounds at Rockport Harbor. Single-day festival tickets will be $10 per day for ages 13 and up; 12 and under are free. Two-day festival VIP Passes are also available for $15 each, providing pre-opening access to the festival both days starting at 9 am.
For a complete list of participating artists, more information about the festival and to purchase your tickets, visit the festival’s website.
