About Us

A Message from the Chairman

Welcome to the twelfth annual eclectic arts celebration that is The Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts. The Festival Committee is an all-volunteer group that is dedicated to promoting so much of what makes Western New York a great place to live.

Mike MeldrumWe would like to dedicate this year's festival to the life's work of the late Michael Meldrum. Buffalo has lost a great artist and champion of the arts in the passing of Michael. Michael hosted the Kidsfest Stage for eleven years. He was who we thought of first for the "job."  Michael accepted without hesitation. He was always willing to help the community. He brought folk music to our children. He also brought a who's who of Buffalo musicians to the Kidsfest Stage. One year he had Ani DiFranco play with him on that "stage."  Nothing was dumbed down. He was Buffalo's Pete Seeger; a tireless promoter of the idea that music can help to make change. Music is an essential element of being human. He never let us forget that.

Thank you, Michael. We will be forever grateful for your contributions to the festival.

Joe DiPasquale
Chairman for the Festival Committee

Our Mission
The Elmwood Avenue Festival of the Arts mission is to foster growth in, and awareness of, Western New York's artistic and cultural treasures and improve the fabric of our unique urban environment.

Goals

  • To give regional artists, crafts people, musicians, arts organizations and community groups a family-oriented venue in which to present their work, and to help foster the creation and growth of these grassroots enterprises.
     
  • Create a children's festival that celebrates and educates through the Arts. Offering hands-on art projects, some collaborative, that bring together children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
     
  • Commission and fund public art, tree plantings, and other beautifi cation projects.
     
  • Highlight the richness of the Elmwood Village stores, restaurants, and people.
     
  • We plan on accomplishing this by seeking regional artists and developing marketplaces for them in cooperation with neighborhood businesses, regional arts organizations, galleries, colleges and universities, and our sponsors.
     
  • We feel that providing such a venue is an economic development tool for the neighborhood, city, region, and state.

     

Festival Committee

Festival Chairman
Joe DiPasquale

Performing Arts
Michelle-Perkins Kowalewski, Ron Kowalewski, Angela Hastings, Dee Adams

Site
Pat Murphy, Kevin Lee, John Marfoglia, Joe Moslow, Mark Kubiniec, Tom Kelly, Anthony Sabuda

Kidsfest
Maureen Chapman, Cyd Cox, Dawn Gianadda, Franklin LaVoie, Kristin Marfoglia, Diane Schaefer, Tanya Zabinski

Cultural/ Environmental Row
Marika Woods-Frankenstein

Merchandise Sales
Carla Freeland, Brendan McCafferty

Artist's Market
Marcus Wise, Joe DiPasquale

Festival Cafe
Jennifer Mogenson

Festival Beverages
Jeff Carballada

Volunteer Coordinators
Susan Heimerl

Website
Kara Sweet

Festival Guide
Kristin Meyer

Block Captains
Michael Niman, Kristin Meyer