Carroll County Arts Council will present the first annual Celebration of the Arts Festival on Saturday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Located on the historic Courthouse Square in Delphi, the invitational show will feature a diverse selection of professional artists with regional and national acclaim. While strolling “Artists Row” on Washington Street (east side of the square), festival goers will find such nationally known artists as Henry Bell and Rodney Reveal. Fine art on canvas, paper, photography, glass, wood, pottery and ceramics can be purchased from a total of 15 professional artists selected from around the state of Indiana.

To celebrate this new festival, Delphi Art Club members will present their artwork in the courthouse rotunda. Founded in 1960 by local artist Georgia Quinn, the club’s work consists of oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, pen & ink, fiber/fabric art, hand dyed silks, photography, hand crafted jewelry, china, wood carvings and other fine art items.

A percentage of their proceeds will be donated to the Delphi Community High School Art Department to continue Jack Sanders’ desire to help young creative students become future artists.

A trolley will be available to shuttle patrons to and from the 54th Jack Sanders Art Show at Delphi Community High School. High school and middle school artwork as well as some work by new professional artists will be on display. There will be paintings, pottery, and jewelry. The students have worked all year compiling an array of paintings in acrylic, oil and watercolor. There also will be drawings and collages depicting student trans- lations of society’s influences.

The show at the school will open on Friday, May 7, from 6 to 9 p.m., and will continue on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to coincide with the Celebration of the Arts Festival. The artwork can again be viewed on Monday and Tuesday, May 10 and 11, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Artwork will be available to purchase.

Live music will add to the festive atmosphere on the courthouse square. Celebration of the Arts admission and the trolley shuttle are free of charge.

The Carroll County Arts Council was formed last December. Its mission is to display and promote the works of local and regional artisans of all ages for the cultural benefit of the Carroll County area. The council currently consists of representatives from Tri Kappa, Psi Iota Xi, Delphi and Flora libraries, Delphi Art Club, Delphi Preservation Society, Delphi Community School Corporation, and local artists.

For more information about the Arts Council or the festival, contact Jane Miller, 765-564-4119 or jane.miller@dishmail.net.