Auburn’s ArtRageous earns top honor

Auburn’s ArtRageous: Artist in Action Art Fair received the top “Spotlight Award for Program Excellence” for events, fairs and festivals from the Washington State Parks and Recreation honoring public agencies for outstanding and unique achievements.

April 19, 2010 12:09 pm
Auburn’s ArtRageous: Artists in Action Art Fair returns to Les Gove Park on Aug. 7.
Auburn’s ArtRageous: Artists in Action Art Fair returns to Les Gove Park on Aug. 7.

Auburn’s ArtRageous: Artist in Action Art Fair received the top “Spotlight Award for Program Excellence” for events, fairs and festivals from the Washington State Parks and Recreation honoring public agencies for outstanding and unique achievements.

WRPA’s annual awards have become a coveted mark of distinction for parks and recreation professionals and organizations. The Spotlight Awards ceremony took place at the WRPA conference in Tacoma last Thursday.

Judged from entries across the state, ArtRageous was selected to receive the prestigious award based upon innovative, creative and exceptional service and benefit to the community.

The Spotlight award, which was established in 2005, adds Auburn to the list of award winners from years past including: 2009, Alternative Energy Fair – Lacey; 2008, First Night Tacoma, Metro Parks & Garden d’Lights, Bellevue; 2007, Step Up to Health Summit, City of Kirkland Parks, Arts & Recreation Dept.; 2006, Battle of Idols, Metro Parks Tacoma; and 2005, Fantasy Lights, Pierce County.

Auburn’s ArtRageous: Artists in Action Art Fair, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 7 at Les Gove Park, was initially conceived of in 2009 as a one-time event to recognize the 25th anniversary of the Auburn Arts Commission. ArtRageous offers a free fine-arts experience in an outdoor festival setting and provide a wide breadth of art mediums that allow the public to have hands-on learning experiences alongside professional artists.

“We’re proud to have received this outstanding statewide recognition from the WRPA,” said Daryl Faber, City of Auburn’s director of Parks, Arts and Recreation Department. “The arts are a key component of a healthy community and our Parks, Arts and Recreation department continues to offer innovative programming that the Auburn community has embraced and is recognized throughout the state.”

In addition to the WRPA award, ArtRageous also received a Gold Metal Award for a Community Service Program through the Washington Festivals & Events Association in March of this year.

For more information on the ArtRageous: Artists in Action Art Fair, contact City of Auburn, Parks, Arts & Recreation at 253-804-3045, or visit www.auburnwa.gov/arts.