Fun fact: In 2016, Austin ArtWorks Festival was supported by 66 gifts of $500 or more:  41 individual donors, 23 businesses, and 2 services clubs.

In addition, 32 businesses purchased program advertising, 29 volunteer committee chairs planned and executed the two-day event, 175 volunteers staffed the festival as greeters, parking attendants, etc., six organizations collaborated by cross promotion and holding events during Austin ArtWorks Festival week. As we continue planning for Austin ArtWorks Festival 2017 on Aug.t 26 and 27, we want to thank the Hormel Foundation for their continued financial support.

Fun fact: James Wegner taught art in Austin for 38 years including junior high, senior high and Austin Community College. Mr. Wegner has exhibited at Walker Art Center, Minneapolis Art Institute, Tweed Gallery in Duluth, Mason City McNider Museum and Rochester Art Center as well as in Austin Area Art Center, Albert Lea Art Center and Naeve Hospital. Learn from a master and local legend by taking Painting Skies for a Variety of Moods by James Wegner on Saturday, April 22. More at austinareaarts.org/classes-shop.

Fun fact: The Austin ArtWorks Center holds ArtRocks, a monthly jam session for musicians to meet and play with other musicians from around the area. A house band sets up and hosts the event.

Players can bring their guitars, basses, horns, sticks, keyboards, washboards, etc, and singers and songwriters bring themselves, their words, and their voices. The house band will back individual jammers, and allow for groups of jammers to get up and play. To keep things groovy, we provide some simple ground rules at the beginning of each event. ArtRocks events are open to friends and family members of jammers, as well as the public. No need to play or perform; listening is an art too. Admission is free. Donations welcome.

Fun fact: The Forte Milers Barbershop Chorus, a part of The Barbershop Harmony Society including singers from across southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa will present  “Grand Ole Barbershop Harmony” on Sunday, April 23 at 3 p.m. at the Historic Paramount Theatre. This is the ninth year Forte Milers have performed on the Paramount Stage. The show will feature traditional country western songs like “Crazy,” “Hey Good Lookin’, “ “Ring of Fire,” and “The Tennessee Waltz.”

Tickets are available now at austinareaarts.org or at the ArtWorks Center (Thursday to Friday 10 a.m. to  5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

Coming soon

Paramount Theatre

Forte Milers Barbership, April 23 at 3 p.m.

Branson on the Road, April 28 at 7:30 p.m.

ArtWorks Center

$5 Kids Studio: Irish Art, April 15 at 10:30 a.m.

ArtRocks Jam Session, April 21

Painting Skies for  a Variety of Moods with James Wegner, April 22, 10 a.m.

$5 Kids Studio: Recycles Monsters Earth Day, April 22, 10:30 a.m.

Find out more at www.austinareaarts.org