Visual Arts Center of Richmond to Host 48-Hour Art-making Event

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond (VisArts) will be open for 48-straight hours on the weekend of October 19-21, 2018, as part of a new event the center is launching called “48-to-Create.” The weekend-long make-a thon gives Richmond’s artists and writers uninterrupted time and space to finish old projects and start new ones.

At the conclusion of the weekend, all participants will have the opportunity to submit work they have produced 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 studio access in the studio of their choice.

48-to-Create begins on Friday, October 19 at 4 p.m. and ends on Sunday, October 21 at 4 p.m. To celebrate all 48-to-Create participants, VisArts will host a reception from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Awards will be presented at 5 p.m.

Last spring, a group of Virginia Commonwealth University students who were enrolled in Jay Adams’ “Completeness” class pitched the idea for the event to VisArts. The non-profit had 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.”

48-to-Create 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 creativity-inducing 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. A bevvy of local restaurants will take meal orders on a rotating basis, and free massages and yoga practice will be offered at select times.

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.

The Visual Arts Center of Richmond is a community arts center that’s been helping people make art since 1963. It’s located at 1812 W. Main Street in Richmond’s historic Fan neighborhood.