Fairfax Spotlight on the Arts, featuring more than 40 Fairfax-area events showcasing local performance and visual artists, announced its schedule for the 28th annual festival that runs from Friday, April 19, to Monday, May 6. This year’s Spotlight, themed “An Artistic Kaleidoscope,” features not only artists from established arts groups familiar to Spotlight fans, but also artists from nontraditional arts and cultural groups from the area. Spotlight’s wide-ranging event schedule reflects the depth and diversity found in Fairfax’s cultural community.

In fact, Spotlight provides Fairfax and the surrounding area with an occasion to come together as a community and celebrate the talent its citizens have to offer. Fairfax Mayor R. Scott Silverthorne said, "Spotlight on the Arts provides unique opportunities for community participation in the Fairfax community through musicals, concerts, events and exhibits—for all to enjoy. The City of Fairfax is stronger because of Spotlight's long-standing success."

Spotlight began in 1985 as a cooperative effort by the City of Fairfax and George Mason University with two aims: to enhance the community’s awareness of the many arts and cultural opportunities offered in Fairfax, and to encourage the expansion of the arts through support of fledgling community arts organizations.

The 2013 Spotlight Festival is closely associated with local cultural groups and is partnered with nontraditional arts groups to produce unconventional arts events. These events include the “Fairfax Korean Cultural Festival,” presented by Fairfax Academy for Communications and the Arts and featuring Korean culture, fare and traditional and modern music and dance; “Fashion in Motion,” a musical runway presentation of fashions created by Fairfax Academy students; and “Celebrate Earth Day!,” offering opportunities to learn about Fairfax community gardens, to talk to a master gardener and to participate in a seed swap, in association with the City of Fairfax Sustainability Committee.

Spotlight also presents the traditional arts events, such as “Battle of the Bands—High School Rocks!,”—a fun competition featuring the eclectic sounds of young musicians vying for the “Spotlight Band” title. And Vienna-Falls Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, performs four-part a cappella harmony and dance in the barbershop music style. Finally, Spotlight welcomes back many beloved local artists: Acting for Young People with a presentation of “The Little Mermaid JR.,” Virginia Opera with a Sherwood Center performance of “A Kaleidoscope of Music and Song,” Truro Church with several “Arts by Truro” events, and many other local talents.

For more information on Spotlight, call 703-352-ARTS or visit www.fairfaxspotlight.org.