Call to Arts Expo, Conference and Festival

April 19, 2003 – Northridge, CA: Over 1000 artists and art enthusiasts converged at California State University, Northridge for the first annual “Call to Arts Expo, Conference and Festival,” which was an all-day celebration of creativity with talented artists in many genres performing and/or presenting visual arts, music, poetry, comedy as well as seminars and workshops. The celebration was presented by Artists Helping Artists (AHA!) and The Creative Line Magazine.

Featured festival events included: an Arts & Music Conference with 10 music and arts panels; a Public Arts & Music Festival with 23 fine art finalists displaying 30 top art works as well as 50 performing acts; a Song & Music Contest with 22 juried song awards; a Visual Art Contest with 17 juried art awards; and 62 arts, music and entertainment industry exhibitors.

Artists For A Better World International (AFABW) was a featured exhibitor. Working at the AFABW booth were George Alger, Petrina Sharp and Becky Mate answering questions, surveying artists, signing up new AFABW Int members, soliciting volunteers and artists for the AFABW Arts Festival upcoming in September, 2003 as well as presenting AFABW Int materials to attendees. Eight new AFABW Int Affiliate Members and one Premier Member were signed up. New relationships were established with Art groups in the community such as Songs Alive, Irish Set Dancers of LA, Inside Out Community Arts, Art Network, The Cultural Connection, Song Net and more. Ms. Mate remarked, “This was a wonderful networking event and I really enjoyed telling others about Artists For A Better World International.”

AFABW Int Executives attended panel discussions of community leaders working to increase arts in the community.

Panels, such as the following, featured AFABW Int members along with other top artists: “Writing Great Songs” with Harriet Schock; “Success as a Vocalist” with Jeannie Deva; “Bringing Your Performance to Life” with Jim Meskimen of the Really Spontaneous Company; and “Producing and Arranging Great Songs” with Randy Tobin.

AFABW Int member, Lura Schmiedeke, won the “Aesthetics and Harmony Award” for her painting “Dive In” (photo above) and said, “What a great day. I’ve made new friends and even worked on a new painting!”

Expo Director for Call to Arts, Glenn Horton said, “One of today’s purposes was to connect with other artists, arts-oriented projects, creative activities and important cultural causes that are of benefit to society.” Mr. Horton added, “And be sure to let everyone know our Summer 2003 expo is coming up on August 16, 2003 in Orange County.”

AFABW Int members present as performers, panelists, exhibitors, panelists and attendees included Jeannette Hay, Jeannie Deva, Joe Scoglio, Tom Fair, Tim Corbo, Larry Williams, Jim Meskimen, Dan Jablons, Bob and Rachel Hutcheson, Jim and Tamera Meskimen, Alexandria Nassikas, Herb Katz, Patti Nicklaus, Harriet Schock, Caroline Putnam, Keith Jarvis, George Alger, Petrina Sharp, Becky Mate, Gary Konigsberg, Boomer and Lura Schmiedeke.

Other of the 23 sponsors and working partners for the Expo were Music Connection Magazine, Sam Ash, Disc Makers, Musicians Corner, and Valley Scene Magazine.