Original designs and creations by local artists and artisans will be offered during the holiday shopping season at an Art and Crafts Market to be held in downtown Martinsburg in December. Located at 116 North Queen Street, the Holiday Market is presented by the Berkeley Arts Council in association with ArtBerkeley and the Heritage Craft Center.  The Market will open on Friday, Dec. 3 starting at 3:00 p.m. and it continues for three weekends, through Dec. 19.

All items are created locally by some of the finest artists and artisans in the region.  The selection includes pottery, glass and fiber art, paintings and photographs and more. A unique and creative gift choice, not found in chain stores, purchases at the Market also support local artists, the local economy and the sponsoring organizations.

The store will open Friday, December 3 and be open through Sunday December 19 on a Wednesday through Sunday schedule.

The Berkeley Arts Council (www.berkeleyartswv.org) is a 501(c)(3) non‐profit organization incorporated in West Virginia working to ensure that Berkeley County has a vibrant, vital arts environment.

ArtBerkeley, Inc. (www.artberkeley.org) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization of artists based in Martinsburg, WV.

The Heritage Craft Center of the Eastern Panhandle, Inc. (www.heritagecraftcenter.org) is a non-profit 501©(3) membership organization dedicated to providing the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia with the best in fine crafts and instruction in these artisan crafts.

Here’s an article that was passed on to us recently. It describes how a downtown community, their Main Street organization, and the local artists created a wonderful attraction for their town.  From WV Public Broadcasting:

Now, how can we do that here?  Talk it up!

We usually see lots of listings for the November and December pre-holiday period.  We like to allow lots of overlap into December, depending on the editors’ time to prepare the issue, but we do retain the info from early submissions to carry over.

Not much we can do if you’re late, however!  Go ahead and do it–

http://www.berkeleyartswv.org/bab

We need your listings by October 30 for this issue.

There is still time to register for the “Writing to Promote Your Art” workshop to be held Saturday, October 23 from 9am-1pm at the Martinsburg Public Library at King and Queen Streets in Martinsburg.

The workshop instructor will be Nancy McKeithen, a WV-based writer and print/web designer. How you write about your art and about yourself as an artist is a critical skill in promoting yourself as an artist. Workshop participants will write copy that can be used for creating an artist statement, press release, bio, website and brochure.

The workshop fee is $35 for Berkeley Arts Council Members and $45 for non-members.

Registration is available online at

http://www.berkeleyartswv.org/workshops/write_Register.php

You can pay online with PayPal or a credit card, or you can print the payment page and mail it with a check.

Registration deadline is Wednesday, October 20.

For more information email berkeleyartswv@gmail.com

Berkeley Arts Council, in association with ArtBerkeley and Heritage Craft Center will open a Holiday Art & Craft Market from Friday December 3, 2010 until Saturday December 18, 2010 at 116 North Queen Street,  Martinsburg WV.

There will be an organizational meeting of interested artists and artisans at the location at 116 North Queen Street on Wednesday, October 13 at 6pm. Artists who wish to sign up at the meeting will be able to do so.

The artists that agree to participate will form an informal co-op, making decisions on advertising and gallery set-up design. The cost to each artist will be $30 plus any additional voluntary contribution to the promotion fund.

For more information contact berkeleyartswv@gmail.com.

The Berkeley Arts Council invites you to join us in a celebration of our first year.

Thursday, October 7, 2010 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
at The Apollo Civic Theatre 128 East Martin Street, Martinsburg

Join us for light refreshments and a little entertainment featuring live music by local band 7DC. Meet our artists and view their work. Learn how the Arts Council is “Amplifying the Arts” in Berkeley County.

We’ve been building collaboration and partnership and providing service to our artists and the community. We’ve been spreading the word about arts opportunities for all. We want to celebrate our accomplishments and tell you about our plans for the future. Come get acquainted with the Berkeley Arts Council on October 7 and help us celebrate!

On October 23 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, Nancy McKeithen, a WV-based writer and print/web designer, will conduct a 4-hour workshop on “Writing to Promote Your Art”. Workshop participants will write copy that can be used for creating an artist statement, press release, bio, website and brochure.

Online registration is available at on the Berkeley Arts Council web site workshop registration page.

In addtion, two workshops are scheduled for November:

On Saturday, November 13, from 9:30am-1:30pm, Rip Smith will present “Building Your Web Site with WordPress.

On November 15, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, David Decker of Decker and Company will discuss tax issues for artists.

Berkeley Arts Council members are eligible for discounted fees on the workshops. To register for the workshops or become a member of the Arts Council, please go to www.berkeleyartswv.com.