Statesboro's artistic spirit took center stage last weekend as the first-ever Statesboro Festival of the Arts made its debut on March 22 and 23, 2025, transforming Downtown into a live space of color, creativity, and community engagement.
Organized by the Averitt Center for the Arts in partnership with Visit Statesboro, the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority, and other key community organizations, the event welcomed hundreds of attendees to The Market at Visit Statesboro and the scenic McTell Trail.
With free admission, the festival offered an accessible and welcoming experience for everyone, from seasoned art lovers to families enjoying a spring weekend out.
A Showcase of Regional Talent
The festival highlighted 40 juried artists from across the region, representing a wide range of artistic disciplines. Booths featured ceramics, metalwork, woodworking, painting, fiber arts, jewelry, and more, allowing guests to explore, purchase, and connect with original fine artwork.
Artists were carefully selected through a blind jury process overseen by two professional jurors, who judged applications based on aesthetic merit, originality, technical skill, and marketability. Only the top submissions made the cut, and a waitlist ensured a balanced mix of mediums and styles.
The festival also hosted a live juried competition judged by Erin Dunn, who serves as the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at Telfair Museums in Savannah, Georgia, with artists vying for $5,000 in total cash prizes across six categories:
- Merit Award
- Georgia Power Merit Award
- Best in 2-Dimensional Art
- Best in 3-Dimensional Art
- Best in Show
- People’s Choice Award, voted on by festival attendees
The awards added a layer of prestige to the event while also highlighting the immense talent present at the festival.
“The festival was designed not just to show art, but to let people connect with it, whether that’s through watching an artist at work, making something of their own, or simply discovering something new,” said Kim Riner, Visual Arts Director at the Averitt Center for the Arts.
A True Community Effort
The festival was the result of over a year of careful planning and collaboration between a variety of local organizations, including the Averitt Center for the Arts, Downtown Statesboro Development Authority, Visit Statesboro, Georgia Southern’s Betty Foy Sanders Department of Art and College of Education, the Statesboro Chamber of Commerce, and the Statesboro Regional Arts Association.
“Our mission is to educate people on the value of art and the impact it can have on tourism,” Riner said. “We’re proud to create a space where the community can engage with art and artists in a meaningful way.”
That mission was woven throughout the event, from the careful curation of artists to the emphasis on inclusive programming for all ages.
The festival also aligned with the Averitt Center’s broader goal to help position Statesboro as a growing hub for the arts, gaining appreciation and access across demographics.
Food, Fun, and Local Flavor
In addition to the visual arts, the festival delivered on entertainment and food. The event featured live music throughout both days, offering a soundtrack of local talent that gave the festival an upbeat, welcoming atmosphere.
Local food trucks added flavor to the event with a diverse lineup of vendors, including:
- Sugar Magnolia
- Saucy Shrimp
- Boro Sno
- Holly’s Taqueria
Looking Ahead
The success of the inaugural Statesboro Festival of the Arts has organizers and attendees already looking forward to the next installment. The event not only celebrated the talents of local and regional artists but also brought the community together around a shared love for creativity and culture.
With a strong turnout, positive feedback from artists and guests, and a well-executed vision, the first Statesboro Festival of the Arts has laid a solid foundation for what could become one of the city’s most beloved annual traditions.
