Join us to Celebrate the Artists and Artisans of West Texas
CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS
Celebration of the Arts (COA), organized by the Arts Council of Midland, returns for our 39th year! COA is the cornerstone fine art, fine craft event in the Permian Basin, and is the longest running downtown event in Midland, Texas. COA has a strong reputation locally, with community support year after year, and draws out of town visitors. The festival hosts local entertainers and performers, non-profit organizations, family-friendly activities, and special events throughout the weekend. On Friday evening, we hold a ticketed Premier Party showcasing our juried visual artists to sponsors and ticketed guests. On the following Saturday & Sunday, the festival opens to the general public. Beat the heat inside the air conditioned Bush Convention Center and enjoy a great time with the family!
​
Premiere Party: Friday, July 21, 2023 | 7 - 10PM | Ticketed Event
Festival Day: Saturday, July 22, 2023 | 10AM - 5PM | Free Admission
Festival Day: Sunday, July 23, 2023 | Noon - 5PM | Free Admission
​
Come one, Come all! Get your tickets and join us on the evening of July 21 for a three-ring good time of pure entertainment at our Premier Party! Enjoy a wide assortment of heavy hors d’ oeuvres and adult beverages including a Carnival Cosmo! Everyone is an artist, waiting for their turn to perform. Swing into the visual artists “big top” to shop original artwork before the festival opens Saturday. Bring the entire family! Live art demonstrations, music, and silent auction benefiting the Arts Council of Midland! Fun for all ages!
We are excited to celebrate native Midlander, Austin resident Baron Wilson, as our 2023 Distinguished Artist! Baron produces fine art paintings ranging from Texas regional landscapes, still-life, abstracts, and architectural landmarks. Make sure to stop by his booth!
SPONSORSHIP PACKAGES
Learn more about becoming a Sponsor or Underwriter Today by Clicking the Links Below
-
Benefactor Membership /// $5,000Cost: $5,000 (and up) per year (Expires 12 months from payment) Benefits: -- Tax Deduction* -- Window Decal -- Invitation to Receptions and Special Events -- Print and Media Recognition -- Arts Council of Midland Website Recognition Celebration of the Arts: -- Two Reserved Tables of eight to Celebration of the Arts Premier Party Friday evening -- 5% of Donation in Art Bucks redeemable during Celebration of the Arts -- Meet & Greet with 2021 Distinguished Artist -- Celebration of the Arts Sponsor Gift Artist Community Market: -- 5% of Donation in Market Moolah redeemable at ACM's Artist Community Market -- 10% Discount on Arts Council of Midland Classes and Workshops (up to four per membership) Click for Benefactor Membership Now
-
Artist Circle Membership /// $2,500"Cost: $2,500 per year (Expires 12 months from payment) Benefits: -- Tax Deduction* -- Window Decal -- Invitation to Receptions and Special Events -- Print and Media Recognition -- Arts Council of Midland Website Recognition Celebration of the Arts: -- One Reserved Table of eight to Celebration of the Arts Premier Party Friday evening -- 5% of Donation in Art Bucks redeemable during Celebration of the Arts -- Meet & Greet with 2021 Distinguished Artist -- Celebration of the Arts Sponsor Gift Artist Community Market: -- 5% of Donation in Market Moolah redeemable at ACM's Artist Community Market Click for an Artist Circle Membership Now
-
Advocate Membership /// $1,500"Cost: $1,500 per year (Expires 12 months from payment) Benefits: -- Tax Deduction* -- Window Decal -- Invitation to Receptions and Special Events -- Print and Media Recognition -- Arts Council of Midland Website Recognition Celebration of the Arts: -- Four tickets to Celebration of the Arts Premier Party Friday evening -- 5% of Donation in Art Bucks redeemable during Celebration of the Arts -- Meet & Greet with 2021 Distinguished Artist Artist Community Market: -- 5% of Donation in Market Moolah redeemable at ACM's Artist Community Market Click for Advocate Membership Now
-
Partner Membership /// $750Cost: $750 per year (Expires 12 months from payment) Benefits: -- Tax Deduction* -- Window Decal -- Invitation to Receptions and Special Events -- Print and Media Recognition -- Arts Council of Midland Website Recognition Celebration of the Arts: -- Two tickets to Celebration of the Arts Premier Party Friday evening Click for Partner Membership Now
-
Friend Membership /// $300Cost: $300 per year (Expires 12 months from payment) Benefits: -- Tax Deduction* -- Window Decal -- Invitation to Receptions and Special Events -- Print and Media Recognition -- Arts Council of Midland Website Recognition Celebration of the Arts: -- Two tickets to Celebration of the Arts Premier Party Friday evening Click for Friend Membership Now
-
General Membership /// $35 - $75Cost: $35 (individual) or $75 (family) per year (Expires 12 months from payment) Benefits: -- Tax Deduction* -- Window Decal -- Invitation to Receptions and Special Events Click for General Membership Now (Individual) Click for General Membership Now (Family)
-
Donate NowContribute any amount to help support the arts in your community! Your tax-deductible donation, no matter the size, will go towards fulfilling the Arts Council of Midland's mission of "Enriching Lives with the Arts through community-wide advocacy, education, outreach and promotion!" **No benefits are associated with the Donate Now option.** To donate to ACM, click here now. To donate, please contact our office today by clicking here.
2023 Sponsors
The Greatest Show on eARTh!
Ringmaster
Karmen & Billy Bryant
Human Cannonball
Kay Bird
Lissa Noel Wagner
Trapeze Artist
Community National Bank
EJ Baldridge IV
Casey Carson
Frost Bank
Rosalind Redfern Grover
Julia Z. Edwards
Midland College Foundation, Inc.
The Bosworth Company
Marcia & Trey Walker
Strong Man
Karen & Spencer Beal
Holly & Jim Blakemore
Janet & Tony Sam
Pam & Gary Saunders
Shelly & Chip Smith
Carolyn Roden
Monica Musar
Magician
Kay Arrell | Deborah & Earl Baldridge III | Nellwyn & Bradley Barnett | Scott Betton | Kirk Boyd | Kara & Daniel Bryant | Campbell Securities, LLC | Mary de Compiegne | Leslie Margaret Dean | Stephanie & Mike Feagan | Cathy & Harry Graham | Marianne Green | Mary R. Griffith | Elizabeth Grisby | Kari & Tim Hair | Joanie Holt | Carla & Danny Holeva | Melissa Hooper | Dee & Giles Kemp | Shelby Landgraf | Ryan Latham | Karen S Lanier | Kimberly & Gabriel McClelland | Melissa & Martin McHale | Kaye & Bill Musar | Zahir Noormohamed | Megan & Joel Revis | Jorden & Karl Rundgren | Sibley Nature Center | Laci Stretcher | Thriving United, Inc. | Violet & Mark Singh | Claudette & Tulsi Dyal Singh M.D. | Laurie Williams | Katie Weldon | Jane Wolf
In-Kind Sponsors
Bush Convention Center | City of Midland | Community National Bank | Fox24 | KMID | KOSA | KWEST | Midland Reporter-Telegram | Rhotenberry Wellen Architects
2023 UNDERWRiTERs
Come one, Come all!
Harlin the Balloon Man
Mary Beth Anton & Jeff Hewett
Distinguished Artist Poster
Victoria Saxe
2023 juried artists
The Best under the Big Top
Congrats to the 2023 winning artistans!
First Place – Marilyn Endres | Driftwood, TX
Second Place – Krysteen Waszak | Albuquerque, NM
Third Place - Boz Droca | Houston, TX
Honorable Mention – Owen Salisbury | Amarillo, TX
Joan Baskin Memorial Prize – David Mercado | Austin, TX
​
​
Thank you to all of our participants!
Julia Ambrose | Austin, TX
Sheiyenne Baloo-Seegmiller | Blanco, TX
Kimberly Bowen | Parker, CO
Kathy Davies | Slaton, TX
Laurie Dellis | Amarillo, TX
Cassandra Dixon | Oklahoma City, OK
Boz Droca | Houston, TX
Marilyn Endres | Driftwood, TX
Gary Frisk | Richmond, TX
Delton Gerdes | Katy, TX
John Glass | Deming, NM
Holly Glenn | Liberty Hill, TX
Karen Granfeldt | Lubbock, TX
Dennis Guffey | Dalhart, TX
Neil Gunn | El Paso, TX
Stephen Hackley | Richardson, TX
Erin Harris | May, TX
Anna Whitlock Henry | Lubbock, TX
Tif Holmes | Lubbock, TX
Laurie Huff | Rockwall, TX
Steve Hunsicker | Bulverde, TX
Alice Johnson | Buda, TX
George Jones | Little Elm, TX
Pat Klamm | Ennis, TX
Boubakary Konseimbo | Santa Fe, NM
Dr Eric Lundgren | Holly Hill, FL
Denise Malm | Midland, TX
Mary Meier | Cameron, TX
David Mercado | Austin, TX
Ryan Minchew | Midland, TX
Pama Monfries | Lago Vista, TX
Jim Monfries | Point Venture, TX
Nara Montuy | Lovington, NM
Victoria Newton | Round Rock, TX
Melissa Orsini | Little Rock, AR
Virginia Peacock | Califon, NJ
Janet Pontious | Midland, TX
Aaron Porter | Pflugerville, TX
Robert Priddy | Mullin, TX
Homero Rivera | Oklahoma City, OK
Owen Salisbury | Amarillo, TX
Kim Shaklee | Brighton, CO
Scot Sheppard | Big Spring, TX
Sandy Shiroma | Arlington, TX
Katie Shoaf | Austin, TX
Bonnie Siebert | Woodson, TX
Donny Spencer | Weatherford, TX
Fred Tate | Austin, TX
Jeannette Teel | Allen, TX
Karen Tenny | Midland, TX
Krysteen Waszak | Albuquerque, NM
Sharon Webb | Fort Worth, TX
Nancy Wilson | Austin, TX
Heather Wobbe | New Ulm, TX
Sumittra Wongsaprome | Arlington, TX
​
​