ArtsWeek combines the AmeriCU 41st Annual Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival, the popular Northeast Jazz and Wine Festival and the Syracuse New Times Street Painting Festival with more than 20 interactive arts activities that are sure to bring out the creativity in everyone who visits. An arts walk links Everson Plaza to Columbus Circle to Clinton Square.

On Saturday & Sunday, park FREE at Manley Field House & take a FREE Connective Corridor shuttle bus to ArtsWeek activities in downtown Syracuse.

Click here for shuttle schedule.

Activities include:

• July 29 -31: AmeriCU 41st Annual Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival - A spectacular 3-day showcase of the country's most talented artists, craftspeople, and entertainers is centered on historic Columbus Circle in downtown Syracuse. The expanded show features 40 more artists than last year representing 30 states, Canada & India. The event features contemporary arts and crafts, ranging from functional to decorative, a wide variety of music, multi-cultural performances, summer refreshments, and participatory activities. Visit www.syracuseartsandcraftsfestival.com for more information. Columbus Circle, Friday 10 am - 6 pm, Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 5 pm.

• July 29 - 31: Northeast Jazz & Wine Festival - A three-day event that includes three outdoor stages, strolling musicians, open on-stage master classes and clinics with student groups by guest artists, and downtown nightclub jams mixing touring musicians with local and regional talent. Visit www.nejazzwinefest.org for more information. Clinton Square, Hanover Square, Friday 5 - 11 pm, Saturday 12 - 11 pm, Sunday 1 - 8 pm.

• July 30: Syracuse New Times 21st Annual Street Painting Festival - A Sidewalk Art Contest where artists will create masterpieces in chalk on the 200 block of Montgomery Street from the Hills Building to City Hall, over to L'Adour Restaurant. The contest is open to 125 artists. Each entrant receives an assortment of colored chalk at registration, but is encouraged to bring his or her own as well. Clear lacquer or hair spray can be used to preserve the work. Cash and prizes will be awarded. This year, a special French Masters Competition will be held in addition to the general festival. Pre-registration is recommended - call 422-7011. Visit www.syracusenewtimes.com for more information. 200 block of Montgomery Street, Saturday, 8 am - 4 pm.

• July 30: Syracuse New Times Paper-Box Painting Competition - 8 competitors will paint Syracuse New Times' newspaper boxes during ArtsWeek and Syracuse New Times readers will vote on the winning box. The winner will receive a prize package with theme park tickets, downtowngift cards and art supplies. The contest is open to all local students ages 16-23. Pre-registration is required - email snt@syracusenewtimes.com with a jpeg of your original artwork using the subject line ‘Paper-box Submissions.' Visit www.syracusenewtimes.com for more information. 200 block of Montgomery Street, Saturday, 8 am - 4 pm.

• July 29 - 31: M Street Cooperative - This event brings 65 local crafters back downtown, this year expanded all the way up Montgomery Street to City Hall, with booths offering stained glass and handmade wooden toys to wrought iron sculpture and handmade children's and adult clothing and featuring the Media Unit's MONSTER BOOK SALE. M Street Cooperative sales benefit the Media Unit and the art programs at Hillbrook Detention Center. 200 block of Montgomery Street, Friday 10 am - 6 pm, Saturday & Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm.

• July 23 & 24: arterie Syracuse - A contemporary public art tribute to the Erie Canal in Syracuse, by the 40Below Public Arts Task Force and the Erie Canal Museum that aims to celebrate the historical relevance of the Erie Canal and bring tribute to the lasting affect the canal has had on Central New York. A continuous stretch of road alongside the Erie Canal Museum and leading into downtown will become water once again through a modern application of blue paint. The design, which will be a scanable bar code, represents an abstract interpretation of the canal to give the project distinctiveness and a sense of texture. Visit 40belowpatf.com for more information. The project installation will involve painting two city blocks on Erie Boulevard, from Clinton Square to Montgomery Street. Saturday & Sunday 12-6pm.

• July 27: Erie Canal Trivia Night - Join arterie Syracuse for a few drinks before trivia at 7pm; all tips collected between 5:30pm and 7:00pm go to support the project! Bull n' Bear 125 East Water Street, Wednesday, July 27th, 5:30pm - 8:30pm.

• July 29: Opening Celebration of arterie - Join the Erie Canal Museum and the Public Arts Task Force in celebrating the opening of arterie! Experience the finished installation and enjoy a drink with friends and canal enthusiasts at the pub. J.Ryan's 253 East Water Street, Friday, 5pm - 8pm.

• July 30: Serenity Gardens at Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church - In conjunction with the AmeriCU Syracuse Arts and Craft Festival, the Serenity Gardens will be open for festival goers to enjoy a fabulous Soul Food meal including ribs, fried chicken, hot dogs and delectable desserts! The Serenity Gardens will also feature a collection of unique, almost antique and slightly used items. For more information, call 474-1238. Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church, Saturday, 9am.

• July 27: Flicks on the Crick - Each Wednesday in July & August, bring a lawn chair to Armory Square's new Creekwalk park & enjoy a different movie each week as it's projected on the side of the Sound Garden. Get Him to the Greek will be screened on July 27. For more information, visit www.cdjoint.com. Sound Garden, 310 West Jefferson Street, dusk.

• July 28 - July 31: Laboratory of Valued Emotions @ the SPAR-Space - The Lab is an interactive installation examining the potential of objects to create unique relationships between people. The Lab is hosted by the Syracuse Public Artist in Residence (SPAR), Brendan Rose. Visitor response to the installation will be used to inform the design of a sculpture slated to be placed along the Connective Corridor later this year. The Lab will launch with an event on Thursday, 5pm-8pm. SPAR-Space located in the State Tower Building, 109 South Warren Street, Lab gallery hours: Friday - Sunday 10am-7pm.

• July 28: Figure of Art: A Life Drawing Workshop & Fundraiser - Outliers C & SO, Inc. has teamed up with the Orange Line Gallery to combine the art of figure drawing with the beauty of sketch all in the name of fundraising for the Media Unit. All proceeds go towards the dance studio the Media Unit is planning to establish on the second floor of their building. Nude models will set in poses for three 25-minute sessions in which artists of all levels can come with their own supplies to sketch, doodle, or paint the models. Finished pieces can be kept or given to the models, should they accept. Orange Line Gallery will also select pieces to be hung up in their gallery. Complimentary food will be provided by J. Ryan's and local wines with beers and beverages for purchase. $10 admission fee. Orange Line Gallery, 106 Montgomery Street, Thursday, 6pm-9pm.

• July 30: Everson Museum of Art - Create a carved clay tile inspired by the patterns of the artwork of David MacDonald! Inspired by the exhibition The Power of Pattern: New Work by David MacDonald, on view at the Everson Museum of Art through September 18th, 2011. Participants can use a variety of clay tools to create a uniquely patterned and decorated tile. Museum staff will be on hand to assist, and examples of David MacDonald's artwork will provide examples of patterns that can be carved into the clay. Participants can bring the self-hardening tiles home and display them. Visit www.everson.org for more information on the exhibit. City Hall Commons, Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm.

• July 29 - 31: Why? A Community Art Project - What is your passion? Who inspires you the most? What would you change about Syracuse? These are only a few of the questions we will pose to the Syracuse community as we bring you ‘Why? A Community Art Project' during Syracuse's 2011 ArtsWeek celebration. Members of the community will create a series of art pieces by expressing what each person truly desires through answering life's unanswered questions. These panels will be free-standing wooden canvases for the public to transform their answers into visual art! Paint, markers and other weather-proof materials will be used on approximately 6'x4' wooden sandwich panels. Columbus Circle, Friday & Sunday 10 am - 5 pm, City Hall Commons, Saturday 10 am - 5 pm.

• July 29 - 31: Plymouth Church - All are invited to browse Plymouth Church's sale held within the church. Visit plymouthuccsyracuse.org for more information about Plymouth Church. 232 E. Onondaga, Friday, 10 am - 6 pm, Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 5pm.

• July 29 - 31: St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral - St. Paul's will hold a garage sale during the Arts and Crafts Festival in the Hanson Dining room. The Cathedral will be open for visitors to visit, relax and enjoy the beauty of this building during this time. Visitors to the Cathedral and the garage sale should enter from the East Fayette Street door. 310 Montgomery St., Friday - Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm.

• July 30: Media Unit Dancestravaganza - Features ballet, hip-hop, jazz, modern dance, step dancing, African and Middle Eastern. City Hall Commons, Saturday, 12 pm - 5 pm.

• July 29 - 31: Media Unit Monster Book Sale - The region's largest annual used book and vinyl MOSTER SALE, outside the WMU Studio at 327 Montgomery Street. Browse used books at bargain prices and interact with Wizard of Oz characters. Columbus Circle, Friday 10 am - 6 pm, Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 5 pm.

• July 25 - July 31: Nathan Roberts Restoration at the Erie Canal Museum - Dennis Heaphy, a skilled craftsman and historical reenactor, will become a living history exhibit as he completes repairs on the Nathan Roberts, a full-sized replica canal boat bow. Mr. Heaphy will engage passers-by while working to discuss his craft and Erie Canal history. The exhibit is dependent upon the weather. Visit www.eriecanalmuseum.org for more information about the museum. 318 Erie Boulevard East, Monday - Sunday, 10 am - 3 pm.

• July 25: Syracuse Stories Opening: The Power of Stories - Syracuse Stories is an All-Arts Festival celebrating and sharing the stories of the people, cultures and institutions that make up our community. Syracuse Stories is honored to have Syracuse University in association with the Congolese Community of Syracuse, Ping Chong and Company and Syracuse Stage Present A Workshop Performance of "Cry for Peace, Voices from the Congo." written by Ping Chong and Kyle Bass in collaboration with Cyprien Mihigo representing the Congolese Community of Syracuse. Free. ASL Interpreters will be provided. For more information, contact 559-7232 or syracusestories@gmail.com. Hosmer Auditorium at the Everson Museum of Art, Monday, 7 pm.

• July 30: Syracuse Stories: All Arts Festival ProLiteracy Day of Stories - Syracuse Stories is a multi-media art and story-telling festival celebrating and sharing the stories of the people, cultures and institutions that make up our community. Please join us in each of our tents, stages and performance areas where cultural groups, organizations, community groups and individuals from each quadrant of the City of Syracuse and the Onondaga Nation tell their tales through story-based arts and performance. There will be interactive programming that invites everyone to contribute their story to the history of our community. ASL Interpreters will be provided for some events. ProLiteracy is the primary sponsor of the Day of Stories. Free. For more information, contact 559-7232 or syracusestories@gmail.com. Everson Museum of Art & Community Plaza, Saturday, 10 am - 5pm.

• July 30: Syracuse Stories: All Syracuse Film Fest - Films, documentaries and videos by, for and about Syracuseans, Syracuse and CNY with discussion and stories about the making of the works. Curated and sponsored by the Syracuse International Film Fest and Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts. Free. For more information, contact 559-7232 or syracusestories@gmail.com. Hosmer Auditorium at the Everson Museum of Art, Saturday 11 am - 9 pm.

• July 30: Syracuse Stories: Gifford Foundation Story Corridor - Walk the story corridor. A fun stroll with free activities and entertainment from other ArtsWeek Festivals and events to Syracuse Stories at the Everson. Free. For more information, contact 559-7232 or syracusestories@gmail.com. Between Columbus Circle and the Everson Museum of Art, Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm.

• July 30 & 31: Heartland Passage: An Oral History of the Erie Canal - Take a break from the outdoor heat in our theater to watch Heartland Passage: An Oral History of the Erie Canal. Heartland Passage is a series of nine high definition videos, each featuring a person who grew up on the canal or who worked on the canal. The nine videos are "A Canal Family: Catherine Charron," "A City of Neighborhoods: Robert Coles," "The Love for Water: Albert E. Gayer," "Learning From Old Timers: David Gower," "Out of the Fog: Don Meixner," "Looking Over His Shoulder: Robert Montross," "Sitting on the Potty: Evamay Wilkins," "Driving Mules: Jesse Wimett," and "Dipper Dredge No. 3: Steve Wunder." Visit www.eriecanalmuseum.org for more information about the museum. 318 Erie Boulevard East, Saturday, 10 am - 5 pm & Sunday 10 am - 3 pm.

• July 29 - 31: Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) - As part of ArtsWeek, The Onondaga Historical Association Museum will host the artists and wares of the Native American Circle of Life at the OHA Museum. Their crafts will include cornhusk dolls, jewelry, handmade blankets and purses, and unique gifts from The Northern Door Trading Post. Traditional Native foods will also be available for sale outside the museum on Montgomery St. The OHA's new history-themed gift shop and newly remodeled exhibit space will also be open to visitors. Visit www.cnyhistory.org for more information about the museum. 321 Montgomery Street, Friday 10 am - 4 pm, Saturday & Sunday, 11 am - 4 pm.

• July 29 - 31: Blue Rain ECOfest - CNY's only green festival-features a complete line-up of music and dance acts on its Hanover Square stage; exhibits by local green and clean companies and organizations; a Green Drinks Syracuse special event on July 30, 5-7 pm at Prime Steakhouse; and new this year, the Greening USA Sustainability Academy in the City Hall Commons Atrium, where visitors can learn about green programs and initiatives in the city, county, and beyond.. Learn more at www.bluerainecofest.org. Hanover Square & City Hall Commons Atrium, Friday - Sunday.

• July 29 - 31: CNY Artists - Artists affiliated with CNYArtists.com will demonstrate throughout the festival including Friday 11-12 & 12-1 Suzanne Master demonstrating Healing Art Passage and Henna Body Art Tattoos. 3 attendees will receive free henna tattoos. Saturday & Sunday 10 am - Noon, Jan Navales, a Master Artisan, will hold demonstrations in which participants will be able to screen print a card for themselves, as well as demonstrations of water color. Saturday 10-12 Kayla Clark demonstates sun prints. 1-3 Jim Brenneman Illustrator/Cartoonist painting cartoons for kids. Saturday Kids can participate. Other Artists who will be working include Brian Kennedy, Oil Painting; Pat Fuller working in pastels, and others. If you are an artist, bring some work and work with us. Items created will later be shown at CNY Artists Gallery, Shoppingtown during the month of August. Mission Restaurant Lawn, Friday - Sunday.

• July 23: Candlelight Series - The CNY Jazz Central Orchestra with vocalist Catherine Gale perform outdoors at the corner of West Jefferson and Franklin Streets. An opening act is performed by Stan Colella All Star Band at 7 pm. Bring lawn chairs, area restaurants will feature extended sidewalk bistro dining. Rain location is at Benjamin's on Franklin, 314 S. Franklin St. Visit www.armorysq.org/candlelight for more information. Presented by the Armory Square Association. Armory Square, July 23, 8 pm.

• July 29 - 31: Syracuse University Bookstore Book Fair - The Syracuse University Bookstore will host a Book Fair as an exciting portion of the Annual Syracuse Arts and Craft Festival. The centerpiece of the Book Fair is local fiction, non-fiction, poetry and children's books whose authors and illustrators will be on hand to discuss, read and personally autograph their books. The literature and creative talents of local and regional authors and illustrators will be showcased. The Book Fair tents will be located at the heart of the festival in the 300 block of Montgomery Street between East Jefferson Street and the entrance to the YMCA. Visit http://bookstore.syr.edu for more information about the Syracuse University Bookstore. Columbus Circle, Friday - Sunday, 10 am - 5 pm. Click here for the list of authors appearing at the Syracuse University Bookstore Book Fair

ArtsWeek is the result of a partnership with many area organizations, including:
The Downtown Committee of Syracuse
The City of Syracuse Public Arts Commission
AmeriCU Credit Union
CNY Jazz Arts Foundation
The Everson Museum of Art
The Erie Canal Museum
The City of Syracuse
The Onondaga Historical Association Museum
Syracuse University Bookstore
Syracuse University
Connective Corridor
The Arts Covenant
The Media Unit
40 Below Public Arts Task Force
Syracuse Public Artist in Residence (SPAR)
The Syracuse New Times
Plymouth Congregational Church
Prince of Peace Missionary Baptist Church
St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral
The Sound Garden
The Armory Square Association
The Orange Line Gallery
Outliers Creating & Seizing Opportunities, Inc.
CNYArtists.com
Syracuse Stories
The Gifford Foundation
CNY Community Foundation

Major funding for both anchor festivals was provided by a New York State Community Events Program Grant
through Senator John A. DeFrancisco.