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WESTFORD — The Parish Center for the Arts will once again host the Westford Regional Art Event this fall, where it returns in person to showcase hundreds of pieces of artwork from the community.
Typically held in March, the event was moved to autumn of this year, with organizing citing concerns about COVID-19. The event typically showcases over 500 pieces of artwork from over 350 artists of all ages.
“Our biggest and most extravagant thing that we did and continue to do is the Westford Regional Art Event,” Cathy Lane told WestfordCAT. “Out of that comes so many cool stories, so many cool people, so many people who just put something in and end up winning.”
She continued, “it changed my life, I’m going to tell you that right off the bat. What we did, what we provided, the beautiful nights of welcoming. This was like… it brought me up a notch.”
Organizers encourage anyone to submit their work to the center, regardless of skill level. The center does not judge the quality of work as it receives it.
“We do not judge anything coming in as long as it fits our size limitation. We accept work until we know we’ve run out of wall space,” Alice Dorothy Phalen told WestfordCAT.
She continued, “people will come in with very sweet, not terribly impressive things and marvelous things. But the very sweet and not-very-impressive things are the hearts work of the people who do them, and they see them up on the wall.”
The center has a large range of judging categories, including categories in each medium such as oil and acrylic, water color, fiber art, pastel, drawing. These categories are further expanded with children’s art, with each medium in each grade level judged separately.
“There are many ribbons and prizes, and for the kids, you get a participation ribbon. Any child who brings something will come home with something,” Dorothy Phalen said.
“The art event is a piece of Westford for many people,” she said.
The Parish Center for the Arts is always in search of volunteers for its programming, and is in need of volunteers for its art event. Volunteers are needed to receive and hang art, as well as deconstruct the gallery after the event.
“We love volunteers, we are essentially a volunteer organization. We have had volunteers as long as the PCA has been in existence,” she said.
She continued, “each group of people brings with themselves particular expertise and particular passions. We have grown with the town, we have grown different interests, its been a marvelous association for me.”
Organizers encourage all to to participate in the event, apply to volunteer, and get involved with the center, regardless of their background or expertise.
“As we have reached out to the teens, we reach out to everybody. Here, next town, adjoining towns. We want to include as many people as possible.”
Additional information on the event can be found on the center’s website. Registration opens on Saturday, Aug. 20 and closes on Friday, Sept. 16.
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