KINGSPORT – The City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts and Engage Kingsport announce the successful completion of the Carousel Fine Craft Show and Brass Ring Gala fundraiser for the Kingsport Carousel Project.‚  Approximately 600 people attended The Brass Ring Gala at the Kingsport Farmers Market. It was a celebratory event full of music, bard and drinks and was described by several guests as a joyous occasion.

Rounding board artists celebrated the completion of their part of the Carousel Project.‚  The rounding board artists were led by Cindy Saadeh and Ellen Elmes.‚  Additionally, Ellen Elmes was presented the key to the city by Mayor Dennis Phillips for her work in Kingsport spanning several decades and including the Downtown Kingsport mural 1986 & 2008, the Pals mural, 2010 and the rounding boards 2012 & 2013.

During the show, platform animals, sweep animals and rounding boards were sponsored by area individuals and businesses.‚  The weekend generated over $90,000 in funds for the Kingsport Carousel Project.‚  All 24 rounding boards, 32 of 33 platform animals and 13 out of 25 sweep animals have been sponsored.‚ ‚  Funding will be used to restore the 1956-vintage Herschell Carousel machinery, carve and paint the animals and to build a separate building located at the Farmers Market site. Other sponsorship opportunities are still available. As of today, the project has raised approximately $260, 000 toward its final goal of $500, 000.

The Carousel Fine Craft Show featured local and regional artisans and fine craftsman juried in a variety of media including fine furniture, jewelry, pottery, weaving, photography, basketry and quilting.‚  Several artisans conducted live demonstrations at the show in addition to live demonstrations done by carousel carvers and painters.‚  It was an entertaining and educational experience in addition to an exceptional opportunity for the public to buy work directly from the people that made it.

Opening date for the Kingsport Carousel is projected for spring 2014.‚  To date, over 100 volunteers have been actively involved.‚  Later this month, Engage Kingsport will announce additional opportunities for the community to be involved with sponsorships or volunteering.‚  Call the City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts for more information:‚  423 – 392-8414.

The Carousel Project:

It started as one man’s dream to have a carousel for the Kingsport community. He talked a few fellow Kiwanis members into investigating the idea and the Four Horsemen took charge. Now Kingsport has a carousel carving studio at the Lynn View Community Center where the carvers can be found working on their animals.‚  It is open to the public M-F from 10 am ‚¬ 5 pm. Volunteer painters are also hard at work painting the hand-carved animals. Another set of volunteer painters are painting Kingsport scenes on Rounding Boards for the Carousel.

Mechanics, merchants, fund raisers and enthusiasts are urged to get involved in this legacy project for Kingsport. The work continues until the 1956 vintage Herschel frame is in its own round house connected to the Farmers’ Market and all animals have a place on the carousel with children of all ages riding. Completion date is set for spring 2014 so there is a lot of work to be done and a great way to get to know great people!

About the City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts & Engage Kingsport:

City of Kingsport Mission: The mission of the City of Kingsport is to provide economic, educational and quality of life opportunities that create a safe, vibrant and diverse Community.

The City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts, part of the City of Kingsport, connects, coordinates and engages the public with a creative community.‚  It operates a public art program, concert and theatrical events, the Carousel Project and a broad range of support to the areas arts organizations.‚  They work in tandem with Engage Kingsport, a private 501(c)3 non-profit organization, in order to facilitate their goals.

The Carousel Projects dream of having a hand-carved menagerie style carousel is getting closer all the time.‚  Built by a group of nearly 100 volunteers, the Carousel will become a treasure for families of the region for many years to come.

In addition to the Carousel Project, Engage Kingsports goals are to collaborate with a variety of arts organizations as well as non-arts organizations, with the aim of increasing opportunities and outlets for artists of all types. As Kingsport becomes a destination for artists, new markets emerge for the creations of these artists. The Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts and Engage Kingsport are dedicated to turning cultural assets into vehicles for economic development.