Austin will showcase its talent and bring in new talent for the fourth annual ArtWorks Festival.

The festival, which will take place Aug. 22 and 23, will once again be at the downtown power plant. Organizers have arranged for Marty O’Reilly & The Old Soul Orchestra, as well as Alex Rossi & Root City to take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Marcusen Park.

“It’s so fun with starting on our fourth annual ArtWorks Festival,” co-chair Bonnie Rietz said. “And each year we try to up it, bring in new things, think of what we can do to try to make it bigger and better than last year.”

One difference in this year’s festival is that organizers have moved away from requiring Austin ties with the artists, authors and musicians.

“We’re expanding the area that we’re advertising … and then looking at what the authors, artists and musicians, basically wherever they’re from they’re welcome to come in,” Rietz said.

Although the festival no longer requires Austin ties, organizers still get excited when they find Austin ties to the artists. Organizers were excited to find out the fiddle player in Marty O’Reilly and the Old Soul Orchestra, which is based in Santa Cruise, California, was originally from Austin.

“We have so many talented people who’ve either grown up in Austin or have lived here a while,” Rietz said. “So it’s fun to showcase that too.”

Artists and authors

This year’s featured artist will be Paula Elliott, originally from New York. Elliot spent time in Austin growing up. Elliott received her Master of Fine Arts in painting from Cornell University in New York, where she lives and works. Her pieces are shown in many museums and corporations. Elliott describes her paintings as figurative abstraction, and says her imagery refers to aspects of the eternal world.

William Kent Krueger will be the featured author this year. Krueger, from the Twin Cities, was selected at the 2010 Austin Page Turners author for his book “Thunder Bay.” Authors Amanda Hocking and Erin Hart will also be at the festival.

Making the festival a reality

Several large donations were made to help this year’s ArtWorks Festival, including donations from The Hormel Foundation, Mayo Clinic Health System — Albert Lea and Austin, and from KMSU/KMSK The Maverick, the radio station of Minnesota State University, Mankato, which donated money for the bands and will emcee the event, as well as promote it in the weeks leading up to it. Mayo Clinic made their donation in honor of the late Dr. Richard Schindler, according to Mary Anne Wolesky.

“Being a participant in community events along with his wife Belita was a passion of Dr. Schindler’s and he helped at the festival and he helped get this ArtWorks Center started,” Wolesky said. “And we’re happy Mayo Clinic Health System — Albert Lea and Austin is happy to contribute to community participation that Dick had a passion for.”

Families at the festival

The festival will feature more family activities this year, and organizers also hope to focus more events in downtown Austin. The food will also be a bit different. Rather than featuring one business to cater the food like last year, this year’s festival will feature food trucks.

Committee member Alice Holst noted the festival would not be possible without all the volunteers.

“This festival happens because it takes about 250 volunteers, all local people who generously donate their time in addition to this committee,” Holst said. “ … Be sure and let us know if you’re willing to volunteer.”

Rietz hopes when people come to the ArtWorks Festival, they get a sense of community pride and excitement for the festival.

“For the community, the pride of being able to showcase our authors, artists, musicians, bringing in new people to expose us to more of the arts, it just, it’s good for your soul,” she said. “It’s good for the soul of the community and good for the souls of the individuals who come and enjoy it.”

She said past years have had very warm weather, and she hopes for another beautiful evening to bring people out to enjoy the concerts and the talent showcased at the festival.

“Bring your family, bring your lawn chairs,” Rietz said. “It’s going to be a beautiful summer evening.”

To volunteer at the festival, visit austinareaarts.org and fill out an application.