Celebration of the Arts

“The MAD Celebration of the Arts is a miraculous thing to inspire you and bring the community closer together.” — Steve Noble, Mayor, City of Kingston

MAD initiated its annual Celebration of the Arts in 2015. The CoA showcases excellence in the arts by representing many artistic styles and the breadth of Kingston’s cultural diversity. This eagerly awaited free event engages our entire community in the arts with a variety show of music and dance performances: In 2018, MAD added a visual arts gallery to the presentation.

The Red Goat Award was originated by MAD to thank and honor people in the community for their outstanding service to the arts. The focus was on Midtown because of the MAD mission to use art to revitalize and reinvigorate a neglected part of Kingston. It was so named because the Red Goat was a recognized symbol of grassroots art expression in Kingston. Sue Tirrell has been making the beautiful handcrafted Red Goat Awards from the very beginning, and the MAD Board of Directors selects the awardees.

Performances by Kingston area musicians and dancers are curated by the City of Kingston’s 2017 Distinguished Artist and world-renowned composer/pianist, Peter Wetzler. The event is held each year on the first Friday in August at an up-and-coming facility in Midtown to showcase the growing strength and vitality of its neighborhoods.

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