The W, CAC team up for inaugural art festival

Mississippi University for Women has partnered with the Columbus Arts Council to present the inaugural Under the Oaks Art Festival.

Set for Saturday, Nov. 11 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Welty Drive on campus will be lined with local artisans showcasing their work. The road also is lined with Oak trees, hence the name, Under the Oaks.

“We have talented students and a beautiful campus during the fall. We thought it would be an excellent idea to bring the community to campus,” said Erik Studdard, graphic designer for The W, and one of the coordinators of the event.

More than 20 unique artists will be set up for the event, and they will offer their art to prospective buyers as well.

The event is free and open to the public. Additionally, there will be live music and food trucks.
The event serves not only to highlight The W’s campus, but it also brings the university and the community closer together.

“We’ve always wanted to connect better with The W and bridge the gap between Downtown Columbus and the university. We found this as an opportunity to continue to strengthen that collaboration,” said Columbus Arts Council Executive Director Salem Gibson.

The event is modeled after the Burns Bottom Arts Festival, which CAC has been hosting for a few years. Both are an attempt to highlight the beauty and history of the respective places.

The W and CAC have been planning the event for months.

Gibson said, “It’s been great and The W’s been awesome to work with as well. They are eager for connecting and getting community support to a really great college that we have here in Columbus.”