FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 3, 2020
Atlantic City, N.J. – Celebrate the diversity and culture of Atlantic City from the comfort of home this weekend as the fourth annual “48 Blocks Atlantic City” celebration goes live online Aug. 7-9
“48 Blocks Atlantic City,” so named because Atlantic City is 48 blocks long, is a 48-hour celebration of the arts & cultural community of Atlantic City. A central goal of the event is to engage the regional community in the celebration of public art in Atlantic City as well as to enjoy and learn from the creative talents of its residents.
Joyce Hagen, executive director of the Atlantic City Arts Foundation (ACAF), says, “In the spring we made the decision to take 48 Blocks AC to an online format. I knew that many of the members our creative community would rise to the occasion and create program ideas to engage our audience – and indeed, they have! Being online offers new possibilities for them to share their talents.”
The three-day schedule includes live and recorded events with titles like “The Art of Cooking,” “Mad Libs for Adults,” and “You Are Here! Postcards from AC.” Viewers will be able to sit back and enjoy performances by the Bay Atlantic Symphony and the Atlantic City Ballet as well as learn how to juggle and how to make a memory doll that will hold one’s memories of COVID-19. The usual free jitney mural tours cannot run through the city, but there are two virtual mural tours included in the online event (one by bicycle), but people are also encouraged to take their own socially-distanced mural tours.
Hagen says the schedule is arranged in thematic blocks – yoga and meditative events in the mornings, Saturday afternoon is geared toward young and young-at-heart, Sunday afternoon features blocks of Atlantic City-themed segments and artist segments, early evenings are geared toward happy-hour segments, and evenings are relaxing events and theatrical productions.
Lisa Honaker, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities of Stockton University agrees. “Stockton University is so happy and proud to continue our partnership in 48 Blocks AC in this meaningful way during these unique times,” she said. “”As an anchor institution in Atlantic City and the region, we delight in sharing our resources to strengthen the region, and value our relationship with ACAF as a creative partner.”
More information about the event is available at www.atlanticcityartsfoundation.org and on the AC Arts Foundation social media channels.
48 Blocks Atlantic City is a program produced by the Atlantic City Arts Foundation and its major partner Stockton University. It is a co-sponsored project of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts and Stockton University.
The Atlantic City Arts Foundation is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to increasing public art access and fostering community art education in Atlantic City, NJ. Through programs and partnerships, ACAF promotes arts-based tourism and economic development initiatives while increasing community pride and civic self-esteem. Programs include 48 Blocks Atlantic City, Chalk About AC and ARTeriors.
Left to Right:
Yvonne Battle-Felton - photo credit © Ian Robinson. Yvonne will present a LIVE segment entitled "You are Here! Postcards from Atlantic City" on Sunday at noon. Yvonne will be presenting this online storytelling open mic in which five writers will have five-seven minutes to share fiction or non-fiction stories set in and/or inspired by Atlantic City.
Valerie Feo - Val will present a LIVE segment entitled "So Val Art - At Home Studio Tour" on Sunday at 4:30 pm. Valerie will welcome you into her home for a Virtual Gallery Tour of 6-8 original works of art.
Ray Tyler - photo credit © David Harris. Ray will present a LIVE segment entitled - "Poetry Curated by Raymond Tyler" on Saturday at 6:30 pm. Ray has invited a few poets to read original poetry with him during his event.
Tina Notaro - Tina will teach viewers how to juggle during a LIVE segment on Saturday at 3 pm. Have some juggling balls or balled up socks ready!