Writers Take The Stage At The River Prairie Celebration of Art

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Aidan Sanfelippo

Eau Claire County’s artistic businesses are crucial to the local creative economy, and events like the River Prairie Celebration of Art are here to prove it.

On September 12, from 10am-4pm, the Eau Claire Area Economic Development Corporation, the City of Altoona, and the Pablo Center are hosting the River Prairie Celebration of Art at River Prairie Park in Altoona, WI.

The celebration will include local art vendors and food trucks, art activities for children, and performances by the Torch Sisters, the Golden Band, and a live reading from members of our very own Chippewa Valley Writers Guild.

“The Guild is thrilled to be a part of this exciting event dedicated to showcasing local arts,” said Guild director B.J. Hollars.  “Arts entertain, to be sure, but they also drive our creative economy in a big way.  We’re excited to celebrate that.”

The reading will take place at the main stage at River Prairie Park from 11am-1pm.  Hosted by Julian Emerson, it will include original readings from Deb Peterson, Charlotte Gutzmer, Jessi Peterson, Jackie McManus, Debbie Campbell, Amy Renshaw, Dan Lyksett, Connie Russell, Patti See, and Bruce Taylor.  Works will range in subject, but they’ll be connected by the geographic region in which they were written—right here in Eau Claire.

The River Prairie Celebration of Art is but one of many events to take place during the Economy of Art Week—a weeklong effort to highlight the economic importance of artistic businesses in Eau Claire County.   Other events include the Chamber Orchestra Concert on Sept. 11th at 7:30pm at the Pablo Center, and the musical group OAR on Sept. 12th at 7:30pm, also at Pablo. The week will conclude on the 18th with Forge Fest at Artisan Forge Studios, which will feature its own art festival from 10am - 4pm, as well as a live concert at 5pm featuring Peter Wolf Crier along with many other artists.

This week-long celebration of the arts is sponsored by Art of the Valley, Bakke Norman Law Offices, Eau Claire Area EDC, the Pablo Center, Prevail Bank, Visit Eau Claire, and Xcel Energy.