Designed to be an annual event, Authors and Artists, had been planned as a destination festival for Northfield, MA on June 13. When the pandemic struck, we adapted and moved online. The festival is still free, and open to all, but now accessible to a wider audience. Spreading the festival out over all 4 Saturdays in June, from 11am to 2pm avoids concurrent programming, and allows people to register for one or more weeks. The festival will still include opportunities for local authors and artists to participate with an online art show, nature poetry coordinated with Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, and readings each week.
Headline speakers include the Vermont mystery writer Archer Mayor; National Poet Beat Laureate Paul Richmond; writer of African-American history Dr. Gretchen Holbrook-Gerzina; women's rights activist and memoire author Dr. Lise Weil; peace activist-poet JuPong Lin; art educator Dr. Simone Alter-Muri; and Abenaki author Cheryl Savageau. Children's programming includes authors Deanna Cook (kids cooking) and Christina Uss (bikes, books, and persistence).
For a full schedule of events including ways to join in see our website: authorsandartistsfestival.wordpress.com Registration is open on the website or using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DUj_BdkcTmGZld6mBHWfOQ
Funded in part by Massachusetts Local Cultural Council money from Northfield, Gill, Bernardston, and Warwick; Greenfield-Northampton Cooperative Bank; Kiwanis Club of Northfield, MA; Greenfield Savings Bank; Deerfield Valley Art Association; Dickinson Memorial Library; and the Northfield Historical Commission. Press contact: Lisa McLoughlin 413-475-0650; Lisa@hemlockhouse.net
