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Visual Arts Center of Richmond to Host 48-Hour Art-Making Event, October 18-20

September 15, 2019 News

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond will be open for 48-straight hours on the weekend of October 18-20, 2019 for its Second Annual 48-to-Create event. All Richmond artists and writers are invited to this 48-hour dash to create new work.

48-to-Create begins on Friday, October 18 at 4 p.m. and ends on Sunday, October 20 at 6 p.m. Participants will have free access to one or several of VisArts’ 16 professional art studios. They are expected to bring their own studio supplies as well as other necessities like music and headphones. A sleeping bag is optional. VisArts will offer coffee, water, sodas and snacks throughout the weekend and will designate a special “nap zone” for people who need to recharge.

VisArts will host a closing celebration and awards competition from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. All participants will have the opportunity to submit work they produced throughout the weekend to be juried by a panel of local artists and writers. The panel will choose three award winners who will receive a year of free, VisArts studio access in the studio of their choice. Awards will be presented at 5 p.m.

48-to-Create began in the fall of 2018, after a group of Virginia Commonwealth University students who were enrolled in Jay Adams’ “Completeness” class pitched the idea for the event to VisArts. VisArts charged the communications students with coming up with new ideas to promote the center’s open studio program, and 48-to-Create was one team’s creative solution.

“Sometimes we all need an extra push to be creative,” said Stefanie Fedor, executive director of the Visual Arts Center of Richmond. “We think 48-to-Create is the perfect way to get people making art.”

The event is free but all 48-to-Create participants must register on the event page. VisArts reserves the right to close certain studios if they reach capacity. During the course of the weekend, all VisArts’ regular studio rules apply. Once registrants check in on Friday, they are free to come and go throughout the weekend, or they can choose to stay in the building for the duration of the event.