Yorkfest Fine Arts Festival 2019
Yorkfest is a weekend-long premier fine arts festival hosted by the City of York! It is held along the Codorus Creek in historic downtown York, and features over 100 fine artists from all around the country, free entertainment and hands-on art activities. Creative York is excited to once again partner with the City of York for the Adult Juried Exhibition, Adult Literary Competition, and Youth Art Exhibition components of Yorkfest. We are also hosting Chalk Walk, as well as hosting the Creative York Family Courtyard with free creative activities!
2019 Yorkfest Adult Juried Art Exhibition
Sponsored by Glatfelter Insurance Group
Exhibit dates: August 23 – September 21, 2019
Opening Reception and Awards Presentation: Friday, August 23 • 6-8 pm
Submission deadline: June 15, 2019
Creative York is proud to host the 2019 Yorkfest Adult Juried Art Exhibition as part of the Yorkfest Fine Arts Festival. The exhibition will be on display from August 23 – September 21, 2019. The Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held at the gallery on Friday, August 23 from 6-8 pm as the kick-off to a full weekend of exciting Yorkfest Fine Arts Festival events. Artist Awards will be announced at 6:30 pm, followed by the winners of the Yorkfest Adult Literary Competition at 7 pm.
Cash awards totaling $1,000 will be presented by the juror. One Best of Show prize of $500 will be awarded and up to five Awards of Distinction will be granted by the sole and final decision of the juror.
Submission details: TBA.
ABOUT OUR 2019 JUROR:
Lauren Nye is Director of Exhibitions at the Susquehanna Art Museum (SAM) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Prior, she served as Art Program Director at Gallery360 and as Gallery Manager at Isadore Gallery, both in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Nye graduated from Millersville University with concentrations in art history and sculpture, with experience in bronze foundry metalworking. She was selected as artist-in-residence for the Millersville sculpture studio and the Nyholm Foundation in Denmark. She has curated exhibitions at a variety of venues for nine years and assisted in sculpture installations both nationally and internationally. Additionally, she served as a juror and/or judge for exhibitions at regional arts organizations such as the York Art Association, Berks Art Council, Whitaker Center, and Millersville University where she was honored to be the first alumni juror in exhibition history.
Her interest in public art sparked the beginning of the SAM mural project, and she successfully coordinated the installation of an ambitious 1,400 sq. ft. outdoor mural in the Midtown district of Harrisburg. Nye’s speaking engagements include the PA Museums Conference at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, the Impact Arts Conference panel on the challenges of opening a successful art space, and PechaKucha Harrisburg on the role of arts in urban beautification.
Yorkfest Adult Literary Competition
Opening Reception and Awards Presentation: Friday, August 23 • 6-8 pm at Creative York
Artist Awards announced at 6:30 pm, followed by the winners of the Yorkfest Adult Literary Competition at 7 pm
Submission Deadline: June 29
Register: Yorkfest Adult Literary Entry Form
The Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held at Creative York on Friday, August 23 from 6-8 pm as the kick-off to a full weekend of exciting Yorkfest Fine Arts Festival events.
Cash awards totaling $1,000 will be presented by the juror. First place in each category will be awarded $125, second place in each category will be awarded $75, and third place in each category will be awarded $50. Ribbons will be presented to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each category.
The Yorkfest Adult Literature Competition winners will have their entries on display in the Creative York Kerlin Gallery during the Yorkfest Fine Arts Festival. The winning pieces will be available for reading in the gallery from August 23 – September 21, 2019.
About our 2019 Adult Literary Competition Juror:
Vito Grippi is a creative writing and literature instructor at York College of Pennsylvania and Cofounder of Story Supply Co., a brand devoted to helping others share their stories. He has worked as a literary magazine editor and freelance writer and has taught youth writing workshops throughout York County. Vito writes poetry, fiction, and personal essays and especially enjoys exploring how the lines between those forms blur. He currently serves as Poet Laureate of York, Pennsylvania.
Youth Art and Literary Competitions and Exhibition
Exhibit Dates: August 24 – August 25 at Agricultural and Industrial Museum
Awards Ceremony: Saturday, August 25 • 2 pm
Deadline for Youth Literary Entry: June 29
Deadline for Youth Art Entry: July 30
The Yorkfest Youth Art and Literary Competitions is an exciting opportunity for young artists and writers to share their work. The awards ceremony is at 2 pm on August 25 at the Agricultural and Industrial Museum located at 217 West Princess St in York. The jurors for both the art and literary competitions will announce the winners in each category and literary winners will be invited to read a selection of their winning piece. All participants will have their work on display for audience members to enjoy. The exhibit is on display throughout the weekend of Yorkfest.
About our 2019 Youth Literary Competition Juror:
Carol Clark Williams is poet laureate emeritus of York, Pennsylvania and a rostered artist for the Arts in Education StART Something. She teaches poetry workshops in high schools, libraries, prisons, support groups, and halfway houses. She has recently received the Above and Beyond award from the National Federation of State Poetry Societies for her work with young people. Carol’s poems have been published in print and online journals including Mad Poets Review, Margie, Byline, Passager, The Pedestal, and Bent Pin Quarterly. She has authored two poetry books: Escaped Without Injury and Stories of the Tribe.
About our 2019 Youth Art Competition Juror:
Kayla Krebs holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from Kutztown University. Since graduating, she has substitute taught in several school districts throughout York County. She led art camps at Creative York and Lancaster Museum of Art. Kayla has worked as juror for several art competitions including the Yorkfest Youth Art Competition, Chalk Walk, and most recently, the Lancaster County Young Artists/Scholastics Art Awards. She has been working at Creative York for ten years now and loves seeing children’s excitement as they create and discover new things.
Chalk Walk
Competition Dates: Saturday, August 24 from 10 am – 5 pm
Awards Announced: August 24 • 5 pm
Early Bird Registration: June 1, 2019
Deadline for Registration: August 9
Information & Form: Chalk Walk Entry Form
Watch artists create giant works of art on the sidewalks of downtown York right before your eyes!
Chalk Walk is an exciting sidewalk mural competition that celebrates the creativity of artists and promote the importance of public art. The sidewalks of downtown York become an artist’s canvas and a place for audiences to watch works of art being created right before their eyes. Registered artists will chalk on Saturday, August 24 from 10 am – 5 pm and murals will stretch along the 100 block of W Market St, between Pershing & Beaver St. There is a rain date set on Sunday, August 24 from 10 am – 5 pm.
PRIZES:
The completed murals will be judged and prizes will be awarded as follows:
- HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (Grades 9-12)
“Top Chalk”: $200 cash prize & a traveling trophy for one year determined by the judging panel. - ADULTS (age 18 & over)
“Top Chalk”: $200 cash prize & a traveling trophy for one year determined by the judging panel . - PEOPLE’S CHOICE
A “People’s Choice” award of $100 is given to the mural that receives the most votes determined by the audience. Audience members will be invited to vote for their favorite Chalk Walk mural. - JUDGE’S CHOICE
An award of $100 will be given determined by the judging panel.
Creative York Family Art Courtyard
Courtyard Dates: Saturday, August 24 from 10 am – 5 pm & Sunday, August 25 from 10 am to 4 pm
Location: Gates and Plough Tavern Courtyard, corner of Market St. and Pershing St., York
Come to the Creative York Family Art Courtyard located at the Gates and Plough Tavern on the corner of Market St and Pershing St during Yorkfest Fine Arts Festival for free family art activities! The Art Courtyard will be open Saturday, August 25 from 10 am to 5 pm & Sunday, August 26 from 10 am to 4 pm. Join us in making a giant Spirograph mural, cyanotype sun prints, and we have face painting and famous art photo booth props for you to enjoy!
Free Hands-On Art Activities
- Giant Spirograph Mural
- Cyanotype Sun Prints
- Face Painting
- Famous Art Photo Booth Props
Festival Booths
If you are looking for information on how to apply for a booth at the festival, we do not handle that aspect of the festival. Artists interested in a Festival Marketplace booth space should apply through Zapplication: https://
For all other inquiries about Yorkfest, visit yorkcity.org/yorkfest,
or contact events@yorkcity.org.
Yorkfest Fine Arts Festival 2019
Yorkfest is a weekend-long premier fine arts festival hosted by the City of York! It is held along the Codorus Creek in historic downtown York, and features over 100 fine artists from all around the country, free entertainment and hands-on art activities. Creative York is excited to once again partner with the City of York for the Adult Juried Exhibition, Adult Literary Competition, and Youth Art Exhibition components of Yorkfest. We are also hosting Chalk Walk, as well as hosting the Creative York Family Courtyard with free creative activities!
2019 Yorkfest Adult Juried Art Exhibition
Sponsored by Glatfelter Insurance Group
Exhibit dates: August 23 – September 21, 2019
Opening Reception and Awards Presentation: Friday, August 23 • 6-8 pm
Submission deadline: June 15, 2019
Creative York is proud to host the 2019 Yorkfest Adult Juried Art Exhibition as part of the Yorkfest Fine Arts Festival. The exhibition will be on display from August 23 – September 21, 2019. The Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held at the gallery on Friday, August 23 from 6-8 pm as the kick-off to a full weekend of exciting Yorkfest Fine Arts Festival events. Artist Awards will be announced at 6:30 pm, followed by the winners of the Yorkfest Adult Literary Competition at 7 pm.
Cash awards totaling $1,000 will be presented by the juror. One Best of Show prize of $500 will be awarded and up to five Awards of Distinction will be granted by the sole and final decision of the juror.
Submission details: TBA.
ABOUT OUR 2019 JUROR:
Lauren Nye is Director of Exhibitions at the Susquehanna Art Museum (SAM) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Prior, she served as Art Program Director at Gallery360 and as Gallery Manager at Isadore Gallery, both in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Nye graduated from Millersville University with concentrations in art history and sculpture, with experience in bronze foundry metalworking. She was selected as artist-in-residence for the Millersville sculpture studio and the Nyholm Foundation in Denmark. She has curated exhibitions at a variety of venues for nine years and assisted in sculpture installations both nationally and internationally. Additionally, she served as a juror and/or judge for exhibitions at regional arts organizations such as the York Art Association, Berks Art Council, Whitaker Center, and Millersville University where she was honored to be the first alumni juror in exhibition history.
Her interest in public art sparked the beginning of the SAM mural project, and she successfully coordinated the installation of an ambitious 1,400 sq. ft. outdoor mural in the Midtown district of Harrisburg. Nye’s speaking engagements include the PA Museums Conference at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, the Impact Arts Conference panel on the challenges of opening a successful art space, and PechaKucha Harrisburg on the role of arts in urban beautification.
Yorkfest Adult Literary Competition
Opening Reception and Awards Presentation: Friday, August 23 • 6-8 pm at Creative York
Artist Awards announced at 6:30 pm, followed by the winners of the Yorkfest Adult Literary Competition at 7 pm
Submission Deadline: June 29
Register: Yorkfest Adult Literary Entry Form
The Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held at Creative York on Friday, August 23 from 6-8 pm as the kick-off to a full weekend of exciting Yorkfest Fine Arts Festival events.
Cash awards totaling $1,000 will be presented by the juror. First place in each category will be awarded $125, second place in each category will be awarded $75, and third place in each category will be awarded $50. Ribbons will be presented to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in each category.
The Yorkfest Adult Literature Competition winners will have their entries on display in the Creative York Kerlin Gallery during the Yorkfest Fine Arts Festival. The winning pieces will be available for reading in the gallery from August 23 – September 21, 2019.
About our 2019 Adult Literary Competition Juror:
Vito Grippi is a creative writing and literature instructor at York College of Pennsylvania and Cofounder of Story Supply Co., a brand devoted to helping others share their stories. He has worked as a literary magazine editor and freelance writer and has taught youth writing workshops throughout York County. Vito writes poetry, fiction, and personal essays and especially enjoys exploring how the lines between those forms blur. He currently serves as Poet Laureate of York, Pennsylvania.
Youth Art and Literary Competitions and Exhibition
Exhibit Dates: August 24 – August 25 at Agricultural and Industrial Museum
Awards Ceremony: Saturday, August 25 • 2 pm
Deadline for Youth Literary Entry: June 29
Deadline for Youth Art Entry: July 30
The Yorkfest Youth Art and Literary Competitions is an exciting opportunity for young artists and writers to share their work. The awards ceremony is at 2 pm on August 25 at the Agricultural and Industrial Museum located at 217 West Princess St in York. The jurors for both the art and literary competitions will announce the winners in each category and literary winners will be invited to read a selection of their winning piece. All participants will have their work on display for audience members to enjoy. The exhibit is on display throughout the weekend of Yorkfest.
About our 2019 Youth Literary Competition Juror:
Carol Clark Williams is poet laureate emeritus of York, Pennsylvania and a rostered artist for the Arts in Education StART Something. She teaches poetry workshops in high schools, libraries, prisons, support groups, and halfway houses. She has recently received the Above and Beyond award from the National Federation of State Poetry Societies for her work with young people. Carol’s poems have been published in print and online journals including Mad Poets Review, Margie, Byline, Passager, The Pedestal, and Bent Pin Quarterly. She has authored two poetry books: Escaped Without Injury and Stories of the Tribe.
About our 2019 Youth Art Competition Juror:
Kayla Krebs holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education from Kutztown University. Since graduating, she has substitute taught in several school districts throughout York County. She led art camps at Creative York and Lancaster Museum of Art. Kayla has worked as juror for several art competitions including the Yorkfest Youth Art Competition, Chalk Walk, and most recently, the Lancaster County Young Artists/Scholastics Art Awards. She has been working at Creative York for ten years now and loves seeing children’s excitement as they create and discover new things.
Chalk Walk
Competition Dates: Saturday, August 24 from 10 am – 5 pm
Awards Announced: August 24 • 5 pm
Early Bird Registration: June 1, 2019
Deadline for Registration: August 9
Information & Form: Chalk Walk Entry Form
Watch artists create giant works of art on the sidewalks of downtown York right before your eyes!
Chalk Walk is an exciting sidewalk mural competition that celebrates the creativity of artists and promote the importance of public art. The sidewalks of downtown York become an artist’s canvas and a place for audiences to watch works of art being created right before their eyes. Registered artists will chalk on Saturday, August 24 from 10 am – 5 pm and murals will stretch along the 100 block of W Market St, between Pershing & Beaver St. There is a rain date set on Sunday, August 24 from 10 am – 5 pm.
PRIZES:
The completed murals will be judged and prizes will be awarded as follows:
- HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (Grades 9-12)
“Top Chalk”: $200 cash prize & a traveling trophy for one year determined by the judging panel. - ADULTS (age 18 & over)
“Top Chalk”: $200 cash prize & a traveling trophy for one year determined by the judging panel . - PEOPLE’S CHOICE
A “People’s Choice” award of $100 is given to the mural that receives the most votes determined by the audience. Audience members will be invited to vote for their favorite Chalk Walk mural. - JUDGE’S CHOICE
An award of $100 will be given determined by the judging panel.
Creative York Family Art Courtyard
Courtyard Dates: Saturday, August 24 from 10 am – 5 pm & Sunday, August 25 from 10 am to 4 pm
Location: Gates and Plough Tavern Courtyard, corner of Market St. and Pershing St., York
Come to the Creative York Family Art Courtyard located at the Gates and Plough Tavern on the corner of Market St and Pershing St during Yorkfest Fine Arts Festival for free family art activities! The Art Courtyard will be open Saturday, August 25 from 10 am to 5 pm & Sunday, August 26 from 10 am to 4 pm. Join us in making a giant Spirograph mural, cyanotype sun prints, and we have face painting and famous art photo booth props for you to enjoy!
Free Hands-On Art Activities
- Giant Spirograph Mural
- Cyanotype Sun Prints
- Face Painting
- Famous Art Photo Booth Props
Festival Booths
If you are looking for information on how to apply for a booth at the festival, we do not handle that aspect of the festival. Artists interested in a Festival Marketplace booth space should apply through Zapplication: https://
For all other inquiries about Yorkfest, visit yorkcity.org/yorkfest,
or contact events@yorkcity.org.
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