The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho prepares for their annual Chalk Fest, which will be held Saturday, July 12th.
Amy Thompson, the museum’s Development Director said the festival almost didn’t happen until it was requested by a community member.
“We had somebody from the community step forward from Teton Toyota and they said, ‘You’ve got to do Chalk Fest again and we’ll sponsor it, and we’ll help bring volunteers,’ and they just were so enthusiastic,” Thompson said. “So, we’re combining it with a community day so that it can really be a celebration of just creating and the whole community can come.”
Thompson said the chalk provided will not be the ordinary sidewalk chalk people are used to.
“We’re handing out free artist grade chalk,” Thompson said. “So, it’s not like the sidewalk chalk of your childhood. “It’s like, more of a chalk pastel kind of thing, it has richer colors.”
Thompson said artists from Utah and Montana were invited back to compete in the Chalk Fest competition. This year will be a people’s choice contest, opening judgment to the community. Those wishing to compete in the competition for a cash prize, do not need an invitation.
“If people want to be considered for the cash prize, they just let us know when they come and get their chalk or if they email me ahead of time and register. When they come and get their chalk, they say, ‘I’d like to enter the competition’ and we give them a number and we just tape it onto their square,” Thompson said. “And so, when people are voting, they know its an option for voting.”
Thompson said artists don’t have a set theme to follow because this event is set up to celebrate community and creativity.
“Just create whatever makes your heart sing,” Thompson said. “Create something wonderful. We really want it to be a celebration of community.”
In addition to the chalk festivities, Thompson said there will be things to do for those who don’t want to create them.
“And if you want to come, you don’t even necessarily have to come and create,” Thompson said. “You could just come and walk around, get a taco at the food truck, listen to music, and walk around and watch these professional artists creating their piece.”
To hear more from Amy Thompson, listen to the full interview on BYU-Idaho Radio’s podcast on Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on Chalk Fest Community Day you can visit the museum’s website here.