Image Source – Artshuntsville.org
Beginning on April 26, the Southeast’s premier arts festival, Panoply, will take place in Big Spring Park, located in Huntsville, Alabama. This 3-day festival is filled with music, art, activities for kids, and more.
Huntsville is not exactly well-known for its art scene. In fact, we are known as the “Rocket City”, full of engineers and rocket scientists. We are also home to Redstone Arsenal, a major center of the Army’s missile command. However, Panoply is a celebration of the creative side of Huntsville and draws crowds of over 62,000 people each year!
A Brief History
In 1982, Arts Huntsville and the Junior League of Huntsville partnered to create a festival with an emphasis on children and arts education. Panoply was the name chosen for this festival because it means “a magnificent array or splendid display.” Over the last 37 years, Panoply has grown to be one of the largest festivals in Alabama.
Panoply isn’t Just for Kids…or Adults
While it began as a festival geared towards arts education, it has become much more than that. Boasting nearly 40 local and regional musicians and bands across three stages, more than 100 professional artists, hands-on STEAM activities celebrating Apollo 50, community art projects, theater, and dance performances, and incredible local food, Panoply is for everyone.
Why You Need to Visit Panoply
If the information above wasn’t enough to convince you, here are 3 more reasons to make Panoply a must-do:
- Encourage and Support Future Artists My favorite artists, like Raymond Loewy and Vincent Raney, were young once. Imagine if they hadn’t been encouraged to pursue their passions- we wouldn’t have the incredible art and innovations they produced. Panoply is a fantastic way to support arts education and encouraging budding artists and innovators to chase their dreams.
- Expand Your Artistic Horizons When you’re an art collector, you have certain genres and niches that you enjoy and collect. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t explore and appreciate what other artists are creating. You may find a new artist or medium that inspires you.
- Support the Local Art Community While rockets and missiles are important to our local economy, the city at large benefits from a thriving arts community. Local artists help keep our city vibrant and exciting, while also adding to our economy. Their artwork on display throughout town is a testament to the talent and originality that we are capable of. They inspire us and give us a sense of pride in the wonderful city we live in.
Take some time April 26-28 to visit Panoply. It will not disappoint!
Add to Your Collection
If you are looking for the perfect piece to begin your own art collection or add to an existing one, visit our GALLERY. We have beautiful, original mid-century modern architecture pieces that will enrich your art experience.
