For Immediate Release | Official Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

36601 Ford Road | Westland, Michigan | 48185

Office 734.467.3200 | Fax 724.721.2310

WWW.CITYOFWESTLAND.COM

Fine Art Returns to Westland for the Third Annual Festival of the Arts

Westland, MI - The Three Cities Art Club and the Westland Rotary Club are bringing the Festival of the Arts back to Westland for the third year in a row. This year, the Garden City Fine Arts Association is joining the two clubs as a sponsor in order to broaden the range of art offered to patrons. The Festival of the Arts will be held from Friday, October 18^th through Sunday, October 20th at the Westland Mall Grand Concourse during regular mall hours.

The Festival of the Arts is a celebration of local artists, bringing fine art and photography to Westland. The art will be on exhibit for sale and to compete in the art competitions. Awards and presentations will be given out on Saturday at 1pm by guest judges who include: Senator Glenn Anderson, Westland Mayor William Wild, Garden City Mayor Randy Walker, Westland Rotary Club President Dick Isham, and the Westland Mall General Manager Carol Rutz. Patrons will also have a chance to cast their votes for their three favorite pieces of artworks, and enter for a chance to win one of many prizes.

The Festival will bring returning performances by the Livonia Symphony Orchestra Brass Quartet and Jay D. Kilgus of Piano Pleasures, as well as new musical guests, the Michigan Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and The Dance Academy, performing ballet and other dance numbers.

Patrons will be also be offered a wide range of activities for old and young art connoisseurs alike, free of charge. Attendees will be able to participate in art classes - adult art classes are scheduled at 2pm on both Friday and Sunday, and children's art classes are scheduled at 4pm on Friday. There will also be face painting for the kids on Friday and Saturday afternoons, and art demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday.

Three Cities Art Club is a group of artists and art lovers who meet monthly in Canton, Michigan to share in workshops, presentations and demonstrations to promote and support local artists.

The Westland Mall is located at 35000 W. Warren Road in Westland, Michigan. The hours of operation are Monday-Saturday, 10am-9pm and Sunday 11am-6pm. For more information please contact Marilyn Meredith at [email protected].

For more information, contact Aubrey Berman, Administrative Secretary, at (734) 467-3200.

The City of Westland is the 10th largest city in Michigan with a population of over 84,000. The city's residential development is an excellent blend of single family homes, apartments and condominiums. The broad selection of housing opportunities is complimented by over 1500 acres of well-maintained parks and nature trails as well as a highly rated municipal golf course. Also available is a skate park, ice arena, a state-of-the-art Library and novel city park themes that are fun and family-friendly.

Westland has the location, land, infrastructure, and leadership, under Mayor William R. Wild to attract new industry and help existing businesses redevelop properties and to maintain competitiveness in today's global economy. Six modern platted industrial parks on 320 acres are served by class "A" internal roads, with up to date utilities and rail access available within two of the parks. Westland is conveniently located within the center of southeastern Michigan's expressway system, minutes north of Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and ideally located between downtown Detroit and Ann Arbor.

Westland is the area's premier "Shopping and Dining Destination". Westland Shopping center, one of the country's original four regional malls, boasts 80 retail stores and has anchored Westland's commercial district for more than 30 years. Westland's diversity and progressive planning offers residents a wide variety of life experiences, and make Westland truly the "All American City".