Festival of the Arts

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation presents the 21st annual Festival of the Arts on Oct. 29-30, 2016 at the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin, Fla. One of the Southeast’s premier festivals, the event showcases the original artwork of more than 100 artists from across the U.S. who will compete for $10,000 in cash award prizes. Festival features include a live music lineup, art activities for kids, souvenir posters and t-shirts, art raffle and more. A food bistro, wine & beer garden as well as convenient parking and free shuttle are also available. 

Local and regional musicians and bands will perform live throughout the weekend on stage at The Dugas Pavilion. The Festival has expanded its culinary arts experience with cuisine on the green, wine bar and beer garden.  Guests can gather with family and friends to enjoy their meal al fresco, while taking in the Festival scene and listening to the stellar music line up.  
 
Admission is $5/adult; children under 12 are free. For more information, visit Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation online or call (850) 650-2226. This 21 year tradition combines the best cultural art talent for a 2 day celebration of art, music, food and fun. Come out this fall and enjoy the Festival of the Arts!

21th Annual Festival of the Arts

Saturday, October 29th, 9 am– 5 pm
Sunday, October 30th, 10 am– 4 pm​

• Volunteer needed for concession sales, guest entry, raffle tent, children's ArtStop activities and artist relief.

Kathleen Broaderick of Miramar Beach, Florida, the 2016 Festival of the Arts poster contest winner. 

This is the first year Broaderick has entered the MKAF’s Festival of the Arts and her first-time try at the annual Poster Art Contest. Broaderick’s winning art entitled “Bonita” is an oil painting inspired by observing daily events of the local Emerald Coast lifestyle, specifically the color and excitement surrounding lucky anglers hauling in the day’s bounty on the docks of the Destin harbor.

“I saw many red snapper, but the bonita just stood out as so interesting and colorful,” artist Kathleen Broaderick said, “The sight made for a fun painting.”

The winning artwork will be used to promote the 21st Annual Festival of the Arts by being prominently showcased on the official festival poster, postcards, the festival guide, t-shirts and souvenirs, on the website, Facebook page and more.

Formerly a primary school educator, Broaderick, 50, has focused on being a fulltime professional artist since February 2015. Though she has worked in watercolor for a number of years, she loves the “beautiful transparency and luminosity” of oils.

Preferring to work quickly and spontaneously this artist steeps her subjects in rich color with bold, decisive brush strokes, “I’m not so concerned with delineating the exact details or colors of the subject as I am in creating a beautiful impression of it,” Broaderick said of her artistic approach.

The inspiration of the Sunshine State is apparent in Broaderick’s vibrant work, perhaps because she grew up in South Florida and attended Florida State University. She lived in England, Chicago and Stuart, Fla., before settling here on the Emerald Coast in 2000 with her husband of 27 years and two sons.