WESTFIELD — As soon as last year’s Articulture Westfield ended, both ArtWorks Westfield and the board of Amelia Park Arena knew the annual art show would return to the rink again. With a date set in early May, ArtWorks is already putting out the call for artists and authors.
“We frame it as the largest art show in Westfield, which we believe to be true,” said ArtWorks Westfield President Bill Westerlind.
This year, Articulture will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 3; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 4. Admission is free to all visitors. It will follow the same format as 2023. Artists will have a 10- by 10-foot display space to show off their work on the arena floor, where the ice rink usually is.
In order to give younger artists and authors the opportunity to present their work, Westerlind said 10 spaces will be set aside for artists under 25. Five spaces will be reserved for community nonprofits and partners, like Westfield on Weekends, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield, the Westfield Cultural Council, and Westfield High School.
The five spaces “broaden out community participation,” Westerlind said.
ArtWorks Westfield is in the process of finding musicians to play at the event. Last year, musicians played in the lobby of the arena, which Westerlind said had better acoustics than the arena itself but was separate from everything else. ArtWorks is looking to improve on that front, he said.
In 2023, ArtWorks Westfield advertised musicians like Bekka Dowland, Jess and Jon Dion of Whiskey Traveler, and Kittie and The Beard. This year, organizers are looking for softer, acoustic music. Those interested in performing can reach out to info@artworkswestfield.com. The organization is hoping to get a definitive list of performers as soon as possible.
ArtWorks Westfield is also looking for food vendors, especially ones that serve desserts or ice cream. On the schedule right now is North Elm Butcher Block, who will be in the parking lot Saturday serving barbecue.
Articulture began in 2016 at the Westfield Woman’s Club, with participation from 12 artists. It has continuously grown over the years, requiring it to move first to the Episcopal Church of the Atonement basement from 2018 to 2019, then to Amelia Park Arena at 21 S. Broad St., Westfield. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed off the show’s arena debut until 2022.
The art show takes advantage of the arena’s annual practice of temporarily melting its ice sheet each spring, leaving a bare floor in the rink area. The large, open space can accommodate up to 75 exhibitors, and Articulture had each space filled last year. Artists and authors who participated in the 2023 event came from across the Pioneer Valley, such as Lisa Betournay of Holyoke, Ashley Hendricks of Ludlow, and Dale Nicodemi of Westfield.
Westerlind said ArtWorks is hoping for 75 artists and authors again. Around 20 to 25 have already applied, he said.
There is no fee to apply. Acceptance into the show requires paying for a $35 ArtWorks Westfield membership, which also gives the artist access to the organization’s three other yearly art shows. ArtWorks Westfield does not take any portion of sales made at Articulture.
Artists and authors can apply online at bit.ly/rp26du, or by sending three digital images of their work to info@artworkswestfield.com, including the artist’s name, email address and phone number, the medium and title of each work, and a link to work online.
Applications must be submitted by April 21. Those accepted will be notified by April 28.
