WE NEED YOUR HELP: Saturday, April 9th!!!

Community invited to Work Day at the Farm

MINDEN, La—Getting the 'Farm' ready for the 17th annual Spring Arts Festival is no easy task and organizers are asking the community to come out and help. Saturday, April 9th from 9am-2pm volunteers will be gathering at the Farm to spruce the grounds up for the April 28- 30th festivities. Anyone and everyone is invited. "There's plenty for everyone to do, even kids," remarks Chris Broussard, festival co-chair.

"The various flower beds at the Farm will be made ready for spring planting and the grounds could use some weed eating," Broussard adds. "We have a variety of areas that could use a special touch. We have limbs to pick up. Mulch to set out. Trash to pick up. Tables to be washed. Floors to be swept. We would really appreciate the help."

Anyone interested in helping this all-volunteer organization are encouraged to bring their gloves, water and garden tools. Or if you're just inclined to help get the community garden ready for planting, come on by. Lunch will be served to volunteers. "Even if you can only give us an hour of your time, it would sure help," adds Julie Vogel, festival co-chair.

The 17th annual Spring Arts Festival "ChickenStock" is slated for April 28-30th at Cultural Crossroads four acre festival site known more commonly as 'the Farm.' To learn more, check their website at www.artsinminden.com.

PLEASE BRING YOUR PLASTIC 2 LITER BOTTLES!!!

April 28-30 are the dates for Cultural Crossroads' Spring Arts Festival "ChickenStock." On Thursday and Friday of festival week, national artists will be joined by area professionals to provide hands on art activities to over 500 area third graders. This free all-day event tagged as "Kids Day on the Farm" is the organization's best kept secret. Only open to area children, the festivities for Thursday and Friday are reserved for them. They will be joined by national 'trashformer' Alice Guffey Miller. Mrs. Miller will work with the children in the creation of the largest funky chicken sculpture in recent history. Created out of found objects and 'trash,' this monumental public art piece will be erected for the Saturday festivities in honor of the Farm's new mascot.

Area school children are being asked to help collect the recycled items needed for the sculpture. Over 500 two litre soda bottles will be needed to complete the project. "We're asking that the bottles be washed inside and out with labels removed and caps placed back on," comments Molly Bailey, chairperson. The cleaned bottles can be dropped off at The Farm on the community work day scheduled for Saturday, April 10th from 9am-until 2pm or dropped off during the week at The Children's Center between the hours of 4pm and 6pm.

Cultural Crossroads is the designated arts agency for Webster Parish. They are supported this year by a capital grant from the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as an arts grant from the La. Div. of the Arts, the La. Dept of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and the Shreveport Regional arts council. For more information about Cultural Crossroads or the festival check out their website at www.artsinminden.com or email cbroussard@earthlink.net or jvogel99@yahoo.com.

Bring Out Your Chickens!!!

The chickens to debut at this year’s Spring Arts Festival MINDEN, La—Chickens are getting in on the act this year as the Spring Arts Festival nears. Students from across the parish will be dressing up their pet chickens for the first annual chicken pageant. According to chairperson, Molly Bailey "if you don't have a chicken to dress up, we can get you one." The chicken pageant will be held on Saturday, April 30th on the main stage around the noon hour. Miss Minden Chandler Nelson will perform and officially open "ChickenStock" in song. Along with the chicken pageant, children will be encouraged to dress up in chicken costumes for prizes and ribbons and parade alongside the dressed up chicken. A rooster calling contest will follow the pageant with a cash prize for the loudest and best roster call. Participants can sign up the day of the festival. Cultural Crossroads is the designated arts agency for Webster Parish. They are supported this year by a capital grant from the Webster Parish Convention and Visitors Bureau as well as an arts grant from the La. Div. of the Arts, the La. Dept of Culture, Recreation and Tourism and the Shreveport Regional arts council. For more information about Cultural Crossroads or the festival check out their website at www.artsinminden.com or email cbroussard@earthlink.net or jvogel99@yahoo.com.

Corporate Sponsors Needed!

Corporate partners needed to help finance the Spring Arts Festival #15 Minden, LA—Cultural Crossroads' 17th annual festival of the arts is seeking additional corporate dollars to support their annual Spring Arts Festival estimated to cost more than $25,000 to produce. The Spring Arts Festival is a weekend filled with art related activities, contests, exhibits and demonstrations aimed at promoting the arts to children and their families as well as art enthusiasts in neighboring parishes and states. The Spring Arts Festival is supported in part by grant dollars from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, and the Shreveport Arts Council. Webster Parish's Convention and Visitor's Bureau is supporting this year's festival with a capital grant and an advertising grant. Last year's festival saw more than $10,000 in additional funds come from local corporations and businesses. Any proceeds from this annual event are used to provide Arts in Education projects in area schools. Letters and personal contacts with area businesses and corporations are being made during the next week in an effort to raise the additional $10,000 needed. Anyone interested in supporting the arts organization, may call Chris Broussard at 318-393-5991 or email cbroussard@earthlink.net. Cultural Crossroads is the official arts organization for Webster Parish with 501c3 federal non profit status. All donations are tax deductible. "The funds we raise to host this festival allows us to offer all the art related activities and contests to children free of charge," states Mrs. Broussard, festival coordinator. "It's important that these wonderful art experiences are made available to all the children of our parish," Broussard adds. "With little or no arts in our school curriculums, this is for most of these children, their first real art experience, comments Mrs. Broussard. Three days of activities have been set aside to celebrate the arts this year. Thursday and Friday, April 28 and 29th are reserved for nearly 500 area third graders who will spend a "Day on the Farm." Their fun filled day of art related activities will include working side by side with professional artists while creating works of art in a variety of mediums and disciplines. And all of this is provided free of charge to every child in attendance. The farm gates will open at 9am on Saturday, April 30th for the parish-wide talent search. More than 600 children from across the parish will compete in a variety of art contests while earning points to win the coveted title of "Most Talented School" and "Most Talented Student." The farm grounds will be filled with artisans displaying and demonstrating their art. The Spring Arts Festival is held annually on Cultural Crossroads' four acre 'farm' located on the corner of East Union and Talton Street in Minden. Admission is $5 for adults and all students get in free. Visit their website for details. www.artsinminden.com. More information about the Spring Arts Festival can be found on their website and blog at www.artsinminden.com.

SAF 2011: Talent Search Information!

Open Auditions dates for Great Talent Search set

Minden, La— In an effort to discover the most talented children in our parish, the organizers of the annual Spring Arts Festival have decided to widen their scope of participation. On Saturday, April 9th and Saturday, April 16th from 9am until 12pm school age children from Webster Parish will be offered a chance to showcase their talent. The open auditions for students K-12 will be held at The Children's Center located at 806 Broadway Street in Minden.

The purpose of the auditions will be to find representation from each of the twenty four public and private schools in the parish. Three contestants from each school will be selected to advance to the finals to be held on Saturday, April 30th as part of the 17th annual Spring Arts Festival. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in each age division of 'The Great Talent' search will win an etched plaque. Their scores will be added to the overall scores from art and poetry entries to determine the coveted title of "Most Talented School and “"Most Talented Student." "In the past, we've had everything from stand up comedy to poetry," states
Julie Vogel. "We're hopeful that children will seize the opportunity to showcase their talent and represent their schools."

There are several schools hosting in-school talent shows in an effort to send their most talented to the festival. Shongaloo, Central and Lakeside schools will send their own representatives to the festival. Any school wishing to host an in-school talent show are encouraged to do so, however the deadline to submit names for the finale scheduled for April 30th is Friday, April 22nd.

All students from Webster Parish are eligible to participate. There is no entry fee but anyone interested in auditioning are encouraged to register. Contestants may also register by phone by calling chairperson, Julie Vogel at 377-0319 or 286-9472. Registration forms will also be available the day of auditions and 'walk in' participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis only. Students will be judged on the basis of their talent and overall presentation by a panel of judges. A sound system will be on hand but each
contestant must bring everything they need to perform. All performances are limited to no more than 4 minutes. For more information about the Spring Arts Festival log on to www.artsinminden.com.

Glenbrook Students to Publish Book for Spring Arts Festival...

4th and 6th grade students from Glenbrook will have their own book published in time for this year's festival. The students wrote and illustrated their own book as part of Dee Scallan's "We Want to Be Authors" program sponsored by Cultural Crossroads. The fictional book featuring the funky chicken will go on sale at the festival.

Cultural Crossroads has been instrumental in bringing this literary art program to area schools. This will be the fourth book published. Richardson Elementary students wrote the first book. Central Elementary wrote the second and Glenbrook students have completed two books. Both books feature the funky chicken as the main character.

The opportunity to write and illustrate their own book is awarded to the "Most Talented School in Webster Parish," an honor that is determined at each year's Spring Arts Festival.

Dee Scallan, creator of the program and award winning author instructed the children in the art of writing while Chris Broussard gave instructions on how to illustrate a book. Here's a peak at the beautiful illustrations by area children.

Alice Guffey Miller is Coming to This Year's Spring Arts Festival!

Alice Guffey Miller, one of the nation’s leading female artists, is coming to Minden in April for this year's Spring Arts Festival!

The Arkansas native is 'one of the great unsung art geniuses of our time,' says poet laureate Robert Moore. Kids love her; contemporaries marvel at her abilities. You may have seen her art around the state or region…or even in Pottsdam, Germany.


Miller worked with 600 volunteers from the Waldron school district to construct "Pop, the Magic Dragon." Alice creates grant scale 'involvement sculptures' always emphasizing environmental awareness and community creativity. She uses a variety of recyclable materials in her work. "Pop, the Magic Dragon" contained 2,000 green plastic (Sprite and 7-up) bottles, inner tubes, tires, Styrofoam, wire and rebar.

The 'trashformer' as she calls herself is this year's featured artist for the Spring Arts Festival. Ms. Miller will be working with more than 250 third graders on Thursday and Friday, April 28 and 29 to create the newly adopted Farm mascot, the Funky Chicken.


While Miller claims her favorite art piece is the 'one I just finished,' Miller gives art a boost by "turning on" school children to the discipline through hands-on projects that display a "play" spirit and child-like quality that is both joyful and humorous. "She's a magician with kids! Every little thing that turns children on to their artistic talents is a benefit to all mankind." –Robert Moore.

Third graders from area elementary schools will be bused in to the Farm on Thursday and Friday(April 28-29) of festival week for a full day of hands -on art interaction with professional artists including Alice Guffey Miller. This art experience for many of these children is their first! It is provided free of charge thanks to local corporate support and grants from the Webster Parish Tourism Commission, the LA Div. of the Arts, the LA Ofc. of Culture, Recreation & Tourism and the Shreveport Arts Council.