Latest News

Downtown Appleton is preparing for a NEW Paint-Out competition as the special feature for August’s Downtown Creates… event.  This new feature will allow local artists to paint beautiful masterpieces on canvas throughout the day-long event on College Avenue.

Anyone wanting to share their artistic talents is encouraged to register now to take part in the Paint-Out competition along College Avenue on Friday, August 21.  Similar to the annual Chalk Walk event ADI hosts every year in July, Paint-Out artists can choose to be “In It to Win It” or “Just for Fun”.  Each level has their own series of prize opportunities.  “Just for Fun” will have a first and second place People’s Choice Award of $50 selected by the public.  The week following the Paint-Out competition (August 24-29) check out Appleton Downtown’s Facebook page to vote for your favorite piece.

Artists who register for “In It to Win It” will be eligible to win the $500 cash Grand Prize! This grand prize will be decided by an esteemed panel of judges that Friday evening beginning at 6:00 pm.  Along with the Grand Prize winnings, second place will go home with $250 and third place with $100.  “In It to Win It” participants will also have the public voting for their favorite piece during the week of August 24-29 for one People’s Choice Winner of $75.

“We are beyond excited to offer this new opportunity for the artists in our community,” states Lynn Schemm, Marketing Director at Appleton Downtown Inc.  “The annual Chalk Walk event has always been a favorite for artists and community members, so we thought we’d bring a new art medium, paint, into the mix and continue the celebration of art creation!”

The week following starting on Tuesday, August 25, an online auction of the In It to Win It pieces will be held for one full week (final bids need to be submitted by Tuesday, September 1 at 9am).  This will allow a platform for the artists to sell their piece and receive 100% of the purchase price themselves.

Schemm shares, “Adding this online auction component the following week allows the participating artists another revenue opportunity.  Not only do they have a chance to win a great prize, but now they have the opportunity to sell their piece to community members.  Plus, community members will be able to support local artists directly and enhance the creative economy.”

Artists must pre-register by August 17 to reserve their spot in the Paint-Out competition.  There is no cost to participate, although artists must supply their own paint and any other materials needed.   ADI will supply the artist each with a 16x20 canvas panel and easel if needed.  On August 21, all artists need to check in at Appleton Downtown Inc. between 9 am and 3 pm to receive their assigned location and judging number before beginning to work their magic.  All masterpieces must be completed before judging which begins promptly at 6:00 pm.  Pieces will remain out on the sidewalks until 7:30pm for the community to walk downtown and see the finished works in person.

Additional details on the new Paint-Out competition and to register can be found at: https://appletondowntown.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Plein-Air-Paint-Out-Registration-Details.pdf

In addition to the painted masterpieces being created, other fun activities will also be occurring that weekend to inspire all to support local businesses, support local art, and even create art themselves.

Friday, August 21 will also be the premiere of the story “Drum Dream Girl” by Margarita Engle being displayed in windows throughout Downtown Appleton for the Downtown Story Walk in partnership with the Appleton Public Library.  The pages of the book will be individually displayed in storefronts of businesses.  Families can walk College Avenue stopping at the windows with a page to read the story.  Plus, while reading the page, the community is encouraged to use the QR code to find fun activities and great sources of information.  Read a book, learn a little, and make a walking loop around Downtown Appleton; a map of the participating businesses so you can read the story in order can be found here.

This month, Appleton Downtown Inc. and the Building for Kids Children’s Museum will team up again to offer Creative Kids Kits To-Go for the third time this summer.  This month, kits will be available via online pre-registration and reserving a pickup time on Friday, August 21 between 2-6pm at the Building for Kids Children’s Museum.  The pre-registration option allows for safe pick up procedures for all.  For additional details on how to pre-register, click here.

Friday, August 21 will also host a Downtown Sidewalk Sale at various businesses throughout the day.  Stroll College Avenue and shop local in an open-air environment while you enjoy the many other artistic happenings on Friday.  The Sidewalk Sale will go all day long, so plan a time to visit downtown!

For more details on the event and to register visit www.appletondowntown.org and click the Downtown Creates… page.  Register today or share this with an artist you know who would love to participate!