Community "Work" day was FUN!

Community Work Day 2012 the best Cultural Crossroads has ever had! In addition to public officials and business support, over 50 volunteers came out to help the Farm and Cultural Crossroads, during our annual spring cleaning event.

We strive to unite the community through the arts, and the community showed us they support that mission by showing up with smiles and work gloves. We are so very appreciative of our volunteers and our supporters!

Volunteers included Piney Hills Master Gardeners, Girl Scout Troop 1327, church groups, Glenbrook students, families and individuals.

James Madden of Madden Contracting repaired the parking lot and Police Juror Jerri Lee brought snacks and cake for volunteers.

The Farm looks amazing thanks to everyone’s hard work- although it doesn't really feel like work when the volunteers have so much fun! Everyone, especially the children, love to paint murals around the farm- which is a coveted "chore" each year.

Other chores completed included the planting of several gardens, weeded beds, painted props, and others.

There is a not only a job for everyone at the Farm, but there is also a place. The Farm is for the whole community and it was wonderful to see so much support from volunteers across the community. We cant say thank you enough!

Now the Farm is ready for the line up of spring events including, the Young Women's Service Club Community Easter Egg Hunt, The Piney Hills Trails to Trellis Garden Tours and ChickenStock.

You can stay informed about all the happenings at the Farm and with Cultural Crossroads by following the blog, bookmarking our website and liking us on Facebook!

Submit art work before deadline to compete in competition

STUDENTS INVITED TO ENTER ART, POETRY AND CRAFTS IN SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL

Students from Webster Parish are invited to enter the annual Children’s Art, Poetry and Craft Contest, which will involve a month long exhibition at City Art Works.

“Showing kids what art is all about and giving them an opportunity to be involved in the arts, is really the heart beat of Cultural Crossroads and our annual Spring Art Festival,” said Leslie Coyle, art contest chairman. “Kids as little as pre-schoolers and as mature as near-graduates have a moment every year where a whole festival is dedicated to their art work- and I think that is awesome.”

Click here for the entry form!

There is no entry fee and each student is allowed to enter up to three pieces in each of the three areas of original art, poetry or craft item. The entered pieces must have been completed in the last year, from May 2011 to the present.

In the student art contest, students in public, private or homeschools in grades K-12 can enter in their division (grouped by grade levels) and among more than seven categories. Categories include pencil and/or crayon, watercolors, paintings (oils, acrylics, or pastels), mixed medium, collages, 3D (sculptures) and photography. All entries must be matted. NO FRAMES. An index card with the following information must accompany all entries: student’s name, grade, school, title and a contact phone number.

In the student poetry contest, students in kindergarten through twelfth grade can enter up to three entries in their division and in one category. All poems must be typed and presented on a matted sheet. Construction paper of any color is allowed. An index card with the following information must accompany all entries: student’s name, grade, school, title and a contact phone number.

In the student craft contest, students first through twelfth can enter in their grade division and in more than four categories. Categories include crochet, knitting, looming and macramé, needlepoint, cross stitch and tatting, embroidery and corking and hand quilting. An index card with the following information must accompany all entries: student’s name, grade, school, title and a contact phone number.

All entries will be exhibited at City Art Works in downtown Minden during the month of April leading up the Spring Arts Festival to be held at the Farm on Saturday, April 28.

Once mounted, the exhibit will be open to the public beginning Tuesday, April 10 and run until the end of the month. Outside professional judges will judge the entire collection with only the winning pieces to be exhibited at the Spring Arts Festival on Saturday, April 28. Ribbons for each category and division will be awarded to first, second, third and fourth place winners. Best of Show and first Place winners will receive ribbons and medals. An awards ceremony will be scheduled during the Saturday festivities.

Scores from all the winners in each of the contests, including the Great Talent Search and art compitions, will be used to determine the “Most Talented Student in Webster Parish” and the “Most Talented School in Webster Parish.” Last year’s recipient of the “Most Talented School” went to Glenbrook School.

Entries must be hand delivered to City ArtWorks on Main Street in downtown Minden between 3 p.m. and 6p.m. on Friday, April 6 or between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday, April 7. Special arrangements to enter can also be made by calling the chairman, Leslie Coyle at 318 422-9660 or emailing Mrs. Coyle at solphoto.76@hotmail.com.

For more information about Cultural Crossroads’ ChickenStock, visit their website atwww.artsinminden.com. You can also check us out on Facebook.

The Great Talent Search is on!

TALENT SEARCH OPEN AUDITIONS ANNOUNCED

Webster Parish students with unique abilities are invited to audition for the Spring Arts Festival’s Great Talent search. Students from across the parish can sign up in the hopes of being one of the three acts to represent their respective schools.

“We look forward to having students from each school in Webster Parish take part in the Great Talent Search,” said Julie Vogel, talent search chairman. “It’s wonderful to see students participate. Along with the student’s family and friends, the volunteers of Spring Arts Festival are avid supporters of seeing the kids feel confident and good about them selves while showcasing their talents.”

CLICK HERE FOR ENTRY FORM

Auditions are open to any student attending private or public schools in Webster Parish including students who are being homeschooled.

Three contestants from each of the twenty plus schools will be selected to represent their school. These top three students from each school will advance to the finals, held Saturday, April 28 during ChickenStock at the Farm in Minden. Finalist from each school will compete for the titles of “Most Talented School”, and student finalist will individually compete for “Most Talented Student.”

Auditions, held at the Children’s Center located at 806 Broadway, will be held on Saturday, March 24 from nine a.m. until noon and again on Saturday, March 31 from nine a.m. until noon.

A CD player will be provided but each student will be responsible for bringing their own music, instrument, or props. Performances cannot exceed four minutes. There is no entry fee and first, second and third place finalist will receive an etched signature trophy.

Schools considering in-school talent shows are asked to contact Vogel in an effort to eliminate duplication.

Walks in are welcomed, however students are encouraged to register in advance by completing a registration form (avialable online at ww.artsinminden.com) and contacting Ms. Vogel at jvougel99@yahoo.com or by calling 318-286-9472.

You can also interact with us on Facebook. A link to our page is here.

Join us at the Farm this Saturday for our big Community Service Day

Join us from 9am-1pm. Bring a picnic lunch and your work clothes. We'll plant trees and flowers, paint some funky chickens and get the Farm ready for our Spring Arts Festival.

We're looking to paint our props and spruce the place up for the many community events to be held this spring ...from the YWSC Community Wide Easter Egg Hunt to the Piney Hills Master Gardeners Trails to Trellis event.

Come join us!