2nd Story Festival of Arts & Ideas is underway

Saturday, April 9, 2016
Tammy Helm/Tribune photos The 2nd Story Festival of Arts & Ideas got underway Friday evening at the Empress Event Center with entrepreneur panel and round table discussions. Pictured from left are Gary Palmer, facilitator, and panelists Jacki Prettyman of Heritage Acres Farms, Trenton Banwart of HairBow Center; Amy Labbe of Art by Amy, and Bill Michaud of Sleep Inn & Suites.

The 2nd Story Festival of Arts & Ideas is in full swing today, giving those who want to explore their creative side an opportunity to learn.

Those who want to own a piece of art will have that opportunity, too, as the event will wrap up with an art sale and reception with the artists.

The majority of today's events will take place at Beaux Arts Center, located at 102. S. National Ave. There is an entry fee, with additional costs to cover expenses for those who want to participate in the pottery and watercolor session. There is no additional charge to watch these two workshops.

The festival kicked off Friday evening with an entrepreneur panel discussion, round tables discussions and networking at the Empress Event Center located at 7 N. Main Street. Gary Palmer of Captured Images Photography was the facilitator for the opening panel discussion. Panelists were Amy Labbe of Art by Amy, Bill Michaud of Sleep Inn & Suites and owner of Empress Event Center, Jacki Prettyman of Heritage Acres Farms, Trenton Banwart of HairBow Center.

Other specialists on hand were Tom Byler, regional director of PSU Small Business Development Center; Jitka Durman, executive director of Mid-America Certified Development Corp.; Gregg Motley, SVP Commercial Banking and Southeast Kansas regional manager for Landmark National Bank; Sydney Anselmi, business advisor with PSU SBDC; Mat Casner, president and creative entrepreneur of Redlogic Communications Inc.; Melissa Wise, CPA with Wise Tax & Accounting; and Justin Meeks, Bourbon County Attorney.

The event is supported in part by a grant from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation and also funding from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

Organizers have said the festival is "an initiative to improve the appeal of Fort Scott to those considering relocating and to improve the quality of life for those who live in Southeast Kansas" and "encourage entrepreneurship in the region."

Today's sessions are as follows:

"Book Publishing and Literature"

10 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 3 p.m. with Casi Hermansson

11 to 11:45 a.m. and 3 to 3:45 p.m. with Don Miller

11 a.m. to noon and 3 to 4 p.m. with Stephen T. Johnson

Culinary Arts (sold out)

2 to 3 p.m. with Chef Jasper Mirabile of Jasper's.

Watercolor (additional charge)

9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., Debbie Reed

Poetry

9 to 10 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. with Jane Campbell

Photography and Fashion

9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m., Veretta Cobler

Pottery (additional charge)

9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., Daria Claiborne

Art as a Business luncheon with Marc Willson at Empress Event Center, 7 N. Main St. (additional charge)

Festival Finale (additional charge)

7 to 9 p.m., Beaux Arts Center