Beaux Arts Festival, it has small town character

The local winter arts season starts on January 18 and 19 with the Beaux Arts Festival of Art. It's right across the road, at the University of Miami. Then next month, our two favorites, the Coconut Grove Arts Festival and the St. Stephen's Arts Fair take over Coconut Grove from February 15-17.

The Beaux Arts Festival benefits the Lowe Art Museum on campus. Itl runs from 10 am to 5 pm each day. This is the area's oldest juried art show. Along with the art there is lots of food, drink and character. There are paintings, ceramics, glass, graphics, sculpture, jewelry and so much more. There is also a students art showcase at the Lowe Are Museum.

Beaux Arts was started in 1953 by 50 founding members under the direction of Anne Atkinson, then Assistant Director of the newly built Joe and Emily Lowe Art Gallery. The purpose of the group was to provide improvements, equipment and financial assistance to the Lowe Gallery, renamed Lowe Art Museum in 1968.

Today, the 125 Beaux Arts volunteers and 300 plus associate members work together throughout the year to execute events and to make a difference in the community through many special programs.

During the past 67 years, Beaux Arts has raised over $6 million, which places the organization in the highest donor category for the University of Miami, The Gables Society.