MILLVILLE, NJ (August 18, 2022) – Celebrating 23 years of artistic excellence, Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center hosts the annual Festival of Fine Craft on October 1 and 2, rain or shine! This crowd-favorite event features the work of 150 juried contemporary and traditional artists, unique craft demonstrations, a Beer & Wine Garden, family art activities, WheatonArts signature Glass Pumpkin Fundraiser, live musical entertainment, and more! Throughout the WheatonArts campus, visitors can engage with a diverse collection of artists exhibiting and selling their handcrafted works of art. Browse inspired paintings, decorative ceramics, and novel jewelry, to innovative wood sculptures and vibrant wearables, the Festival offers something exciting for everyone! Folklife resident artist Ubaldo Sanchez joins the craft demonstrations this year with the creation of Mayan Sacred Kites using bamboo & tissue paper that invites audience participation.

“Scarecrow Construction” is notably one of the favorite family activities each year, with a wild assortment of clothing and plenty of straw to create life-size scarecrows to take home! Everyone can experience the creative process with additional complimentary art-making activities (paper bowl scarecrow faces, tissue paper stained glass apples, and beaded fall corn), thanks to a special PNC Arts Alive! grant. Other fee-based artistic hands-on opportunities, such as basket weaving and fused glass magnets and pendants, will be available throughout the grounds.

Visitors 21 years of age and older can grab a seat, or a hay bale, to enjoy selections from Glasstown Brewing Company and Bellview Winery in the Beer & Wine Garden. Various gourmet food vendors and specialty food trucks will line the food court with refreshments for purchase. Additionally, visitors can enjoy live musical entertainment from South Jersey’s own Package Goods Orchestra. For added Festival fun, everyone is invited to stop by the information table after entering through the gates to sign up for a chance to win a variety of WheatonArts door prizes. 

The Festival’s Glass Pumpkin Fundraiser will be back in a limited fashion. This outdoor installation invites everyone to browse beautifully handcrafted glass pumpkins of all shapes, sizes, and colors—each individually handcrafted by WheatonArts’ resident glass artists. Located across from the Pottery Studio, the glass pumpkins will be available for purchase, with proceeds supporting arts educational programming at WheatonArts. Please note that due to ongoing changes in the Glass Studio, pumpkin quantities are limited compared to past years. 

For the health and safety of our artists, staff, and audiences, masks are strongly encouraged while indoors, however, not required. The Festival of Fine Craft is included with general admission to WheatonArts. Admission at the gate is $12 adults, $11 senior adults, $7 students, and free for WheatonArts members and children ages five or younger. Buy tickets in advance online to save $2.00 per ticket! The offer ends on September 24, 2022. Experience the Festival along with special exhibitions in the Museum of American Glass and Down Jersey Folklife Center. Admission ticket special: ask for a “Tomorrow Pass” upon exiting the Festival on Saturday to get free access to the Festival on Sunday! Available by request only. Parking and shuttle service are also available free of charge.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2, rain or shine. Event programming is subject to change. For more information, call 856-825-6800 or 800-998-4552, or visit wheatonarts.org. WheatonArts is currently open Thursday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., April through December. Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.   

WheatonArts strives to ensure the accessibility of its exhibitions, events, and programs to all persons with disabilities. Please provide two weeks notice for additional needs. Patrons with hearing and speech disabilities may contact WheatonArts through the New Jersey Relay Service (TRS) 800-852-7899 or by dialing 711.  

Funding has been made possible in part by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts and the New Jersey Cultural Trust. WheatonArts receives general operating support from the New Jersey Historical Commission, Division of Cultural Affairs in the New Jersey Department of State, and is supported in part by the New Jersey Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism. Additional support has been provided by OceanFirst Bank and a PNC Arts Alive grant. 

___________________________________________________________

About WheatonArts: With a history spanning over five decades, WheatonArts has earned regional, national and international recognition for its unique collections and programs. The Museum of American Glass (accredited by the American Alliance of Museums) houses one of the most comprehensive collections of American glass in the country – from the first glass bottles made in America to celebrated works by Dale Chihuly, Paul Stankard, and other contemporary glass artists. Visitors experience the art of glassmaking, pottery, and flameworking in the Artists Studios. From April through December, the Museum of American Glass and Down Jersey Folklife Center present special exhibitions. WheatonArts also offers traditional and multi-cultural programs, classes, workshops, performances, and weekend festivals. The award-winning Museum Stores offer traditional and contemporary art and craft in all mediums.

###