WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — Hundreds of art lovers will flock to northern Manhattan this spring for the annual Uptown Arts Stroll — and the festival's organizer is calling on artists to join in on the fun.
The Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance is seeking artists and venues for the monthlong festival. Musicians, poets, theater groups, singers, photographers and visual artists are all encouraged to participate.
Artists and venues are asked to fill out submission forms online before April 22 in order to be included in the stroll's official guidebook.
The art stroll, now in its 12th year, turns shops, parks, churches and open spaces located between 155th and 220th streets into de facto art galleries for artists from Washington Heights and Inwood.
Last year's stroll featured 177 events at 67 different venues. They ranged from theater and dance performances, to photo exhibits, to intimate "open studios" where artists let the public visit their workshops.
"It's just a beautiful manifestation of what's happening up there," NoMAA director Sandra Garcia-Betancourt said prior to last year's festival.
"There are so many artists that live here and it's a great opportunity to show their work and for the community to come out and find some great, first-class entertainment."
Every stroll features a unique poster and this year's will feature whimsical work by Washington Heights cartoonist Felipe Galindo.
Uptown Arts Stroll will kick off with an opening ceremony May 29. For more information visit artstroll.com
