Washington Mutual Coconut Grove Arts Festival Celebrates 41 Years in Style.

Travel, Arts & Lifestyle Editors

COCONUT GROVE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 13, 2003

Amidst the tropical splendor of swaying palm trees and the glistening blue waters of Biscayne Bay, the nation's number one fine arts festival is gearing up for its 41st year. In February 2004, the Washington Mutual Coconut Grove Arts Festival will roll out the highest-quality original artwork from the finest contemporary artists from around the country and throughout the world. And, if it is anything like the 40 Festivals that preceded it, the bayside village of Coconut Grove in Miami will be the hot spot for international art cognoscenti over Presidents' Day Weekend, February 14-16, 2004.

The Washington Mutual Coconut Grove Arts Festival was recently named the nation's #1 fine arts festival by Sunshine Artist magazine, the premier publication of the outdoor fine art and fine craft show industry. The Festival was heralded by the magazine for its "incomparable tropical setting, the cosmopolitan international crowd, sales levels that leave (artists) with nothing left to sell, and high quality jurying year after year." It was the sixth time in the past decade that Sunshine Artist has ranked the Festival as tops in the country.

With its long and colorful history as a Bohemian artists' colony, Coconut Grove is located in a small tropical enclave in the heart of Miami. Situated on Biscayne Bay, the Festival will offer a treasure trove of the finest contemporary art featuring work in a dozen mediums, including claywork, digital art, fiber, jewelry and metal work, painting, photography, printmaking and drawing, watercolor, wood, sculpture, as well as two- and three-dimensional mixed media. A field of more than 1,400 applicants has been whittled down by expert panelists through an intensive "blind" jury process, and the final cut includes a broad and multi-cultural array of more than 330 artists from across North America, including many Latino artists with an international flair.

Art aficionados can receive special V.I.P. access to the Washington Mutual Coconut Grove Arts Festival through membership in the Collectors' Circle. By purchasing pre-paid vouchers - which start at $200 - members are invited to exclusive events, including the opportunity to purchase artwork directly from artists at a leisurely pace before the Festival opens to the public. Enormously popular, the Collectors' Circle has been a driving force in bringing the Festival to its present preeminent position among art buyers.

"As anyone who is plugged into the arts scene already knows, the Washington Mutual Coconut Grove Arts Festival is not only a venue for the very best of American contemporary art, but is also a wonderful destination for savvy art collectors and casual art admirers alike," said Carol Romine, President and CEO.

Hundreds of artists' booths will be laid out along nearly a mile of streets through the heart of town. The atmosphere will have a distinct international edge, as art lovers arrive from around the world to examine the artwork and soak up the scene; indeed, South Florida is known for its diversity, with many locals hailing from parts south. The Global Food Village will serve up a feast of international culinary delights. A nearby sound stage will feature entertainment from world-class performers.

Admission to the Festival is $5 per person for entry into the artists' area. All other areas of the Festival, including entertainment and food booths, are free and open to the public. For festival information visit http://www.coconutgroveartsfest.com, or call 305-447-0401.