Annual Art Fest Naples Supports Additional Needs, Inc

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Jan. 15, 2018 - PRLog -- On January 20th and 21st 140 artists will return to Fleischmann Park in Naples for the 21st Annual Art Fest Naples. Art Fest Naples is a juried show that offers Southwest Florida residents and visitors a chance to browse and purchase fine art that includes paintings in oil and acrylic, watercolors, drawings in graphite and pastels, art photography, blown glass, turned wood pieces, sculptures, metal works, printmaking, leather, ceramics and pottery, fiber art, wearable fiber art, hand-crafted fine art jewelry and a variety of mixed media pieces.

Art Fest Naples is known for the high caliber of artists from Naples and around the country who gather to exhibit in the beautiful setting of Fleischmann Park.  Some of the artists have been participating in the festival since the first show in 1998.  The ambiance of the park and the opportunity to speak in depth with the artists about their work makes this show a Naples favorite.

The committee and volunteers are focused on presenting a show to the community that highlights the creativity and original works of the talented artists.  Art Fest has always supported a local 501 (c) (3) organization through proceeds from the show.  This is an endeavor that has been received with enthusiasm over the years by the artists, as many of the artists have had children, grandchildren or other family members with autism and/or related developmental issues.

Art Fest Naples is proud to announce that the 2018 Title sponsor is The Neurology Office of Joseph Kandel & Associates, with practices in Lee and Collier County.  Dr. Kandel co-founded the show 21 years ago with local Naples artist, Patsy Reeves.  The title sponsorship was made in honor of The Foundation for the Developmentally Disabled, a thirty-five year old Naples organization that successfully serves adults in employment and recreational programs.  The Foundation will be presenting their own booth at Art Fest representing the work of their participants from a photography workshop taught by artists, Cynthia and Steve Adams.  Both the Neurology Office of Joseph Kandel and the Foundation participants join in supporting the beneficiary charity for 2018.

This year's Art Fest will benefit Additional Needs, Inc. The mission of Additional Needs is to provide a user-friendly and time-saving website that is maintained by individuals with additional needs.  The website provides valuable resources and information to assist children and adults with additional needs and their families in finding appropriate services. Additional Needs vision is to change society's perspective from the label of disability to one of additional needs using the website as a platform.

Additional Needs will present a Resource Tent all weekend of Art Fest with local service providers including speech-language therapists, physical, behavioral and occupational therapists.  All families are invited to attend.  It is a great opportunity to ask questions and meet face to face with the professionals.  There will also be a speakers session offered both Saturday and Sunday mornings in the Community Center at Fleischmann Park. Local professionals including: Pediatric Neurologist, Jose Colon, M.D.;  BCBA, Carolyn O'Connell; Medical Intuitive, Cynthia Sharpe; Blue Zone Project representative; as well as, Board Certified Speech-Language Pathologist and Professor at the University of Delaware, Illene Courtright, are scheduled to speak on topics including sleep disturbances, Apraxia, behavior strategies and stress reduction strategies.  Please call to reserve your seat for the guest speakers. All are also welcomed to attend the speaker's sessions. For scheduled speaker times, please visit www.additionalneeds.info or call (239) 298.6969  for more information.

We hope the public will support Additional Needs and attend the 21st annual Art Fest Naples on January 21st and 22nd from 10am – 5pm at Fleischmann Park, 1600 Fleischmann Boulevard in Naples. Admission is free; however, donations will be happily accepted at the gate.

For more information about Art Fest Naples or to Volunteer contact Taire Malloy at (239) 634.2337.   Email artfestnaples@gmail.com or visit www.artfestnaples.com.


Taire Malloy is the director of Art Fest Naples