Over the past three years, the Old Town Bay Minette Arts Council has established a firm foundation for the arts community in Bay Minette and the surrounding areas.

However, due to a lack of volunteers in a position to take the reins from the original founding members, we have decided to end the formal fellowship, hoping the seeds we planted will continue to bear interesting and colorful fruit. To wrap up our tenure, the arts council founders will host a huge Art Party on Saturday, March 29 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. in Blackburn Park.

The event is free to public and will include performing arts, music and a children’s art show featuring artwork from local elementary school students. Vendors will be on hand selling food, antiques, arts and crafts. Booth space is free for everyone. Non-profits are welcome.

There will even be a butterfly release! The butterfly is the symbol the arts council chose to represent the spirit of change and growth in the arts community. It is representative of the transformative power of art. “I am proud of the fact that we have been able to bring about a fresh appreciation for the arts,” said OTBMAC treasurer and founding member Judy Pimperl. The Art Party is our way of giving back to the community and celebrating the artistic spirit in everyone.

Several weeks ago the founding members – Pimperl, Jo Vickery, Dorothy Parker, Becca Horne and myself – announced plans to step down from our positions on the board and not move forward with the arts council. This decision was met with strong opposition from many who had been involved, directly or indirectly, in our efforts. We were greatly appreciative of the response and attempted to fashion a second wave of officers and effort.

However, at the completion of our meeting Tuesday evening we simply didn’t have enough people who could spare the time and energy required to fill the leadership positions or the ancillary positions necessary for the group to continue to be a viable entity.

The North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce is considering taking over Market Days since it appears this popular event was at the forefront of what everyone wanted to save. If the chamber continues Market Days, the plan is to have them pick up with this event where the First Friday Family Nights leave off.

As for the upcoming Art Party, artists are invited to demonstrate their art or craft. Vendors are invited to show and sell their wares. Booth space is free, first come, first served. DJ Jason Bishop will play a variety of music from several genres. There will be butterfly themed children’s art projects for kids of all ages. Delores “Barefooted Poet” Gibson will present her spoken word poetry and stories. For those of you who have not heard her speak, she is an absolutely phenomenal storyteller! We will have belly dancers performing two different shows. We will award our last teacher scholarship to Jo Vickery to purchase supplies for her art classes at Perdido School.

For those interested in participating, you can begin setting up around noon on that day. Someone from the arts council will be on hand to show you where. To everyone else, those who have participated in the events as vendors or buyers, artists and patrons, it was a real pleasure to play some part in revitalizing an important part of the community and through it to impact the surrounding areas. We’re proud to have been of service and wish our very best to the Chamber and anyone else who advances that flag in the future.

For more information, please visit our Facebook page – facebook.com/oldtownbayminetteartscouncil. This will be a one of a kind event! You will not want to miss it.

Joanna Bailey is the director of the Bay Minette Public Library. She can be reached at baileyvolumes@gmail.com