Music and art merge at BAYarts' free summer events

Umojah Nation headlines BAYarts' Annual Art and Music Festival on June 14.

BAYarts has become a popular summer destination for free music and gallery events. The summer concert series, now in its seventh year, kicks off on June 6 with Colin Dussault and the Annual Art and Music Festival on June 14 highlights world music with reggae band Umojah Nation and the Passport Project drumming group, in which the participants “travel” the world via the arts – studying music, dance, visual art and drama. Passport project will offer drumming workshops during the event.

The Art and Music Festival was conceived as an affordable alternative for artists to sell their work in contrast to similar events with prohibitive entry fees. Through sponsors and membership, BAYarts has been able to keep the fee minimal and artists keep 100 percent of their sales. Food is provided by local venues including Vento Trattoria (located on BAYarts' campus). Besides featuring over 70 artists, Rustbelt Monster Collective will create an on-spot mural, galleries will be open and its all free, rain or shine!

The concert series is sponsored this year by Sears Home Appliance Showroom in Westlake who is giving away a picnic blanket to anyone who comes to their store and mentions the concerts. Concerts are on Friday and Sunday nights including an open mic night open to all (contact concerts@bayarts.net for information on how to participate).

BAYarts is a non-profit art center specializing in visual art education, exhibition and art enrichment programming located at 28795 Lake Road, Bay Village, 440-871-6543. Event details and festival application: bayarts.net/events/upcoming-events.aspx.