As part of this year’s Tobacco and Heritage Festive, the Russellville Arts Council and First Southern National Bank will be sponsoring “A Harvest of the Arts.”

Their will be two main components - a fine arts competition and a community arts day.

The fine arts competition will begin on Saturday, Sept. 29. Artists can drop off their submissions at the main branch of First Southern National Bank on Main Street from 9 a.m. to noon.

“The art will be on display through Oct. 13,” said Larry Vaught of the Russellville Arts Council. “The artists can come back on that day and pick it up.”

Art media which will be judged will include: painting, drawing, printing, sculpture, pottery, and textile art pieces. Art will be displayed downtown during the Tobacco Festival in the storefront of the Old Hancock Building during the Festival, and then the winners of each category will be displayed for another week in the Main Branch of First Southern Bank.

Entry forms are available at the Fourth Street Theater and the Logan County Chamber of Commerce in Russellville or you may call Elizabeth Holland, event organizer, at 542-7256 for more information. Participants must be at least 16 years old.

The second part of the “Harvest” will be call “Arts in the A.M.” and takes place on Saturday, Oct. 6 in the old Logan County courthouse from 9 a.m. to noon.

“We’re going to have artisans coming in to share their craft and knowledge,” Vaught said. “There will also be a children’s art table with activities for them and face paintings.”

Vaught said participants would also help create a community mural.

“That’ll be a fun exploratory event with the mural,” Vaught said. “The main intent of all these events is that we are really blessed with great talents within our community. We’re trying to showcase those that are gifted individually, not only in producing fine art, but those that are really craftspeople with a talent for woodworking and sculpture.”

This is the first time the Russellville Arts Council has hosted these events and they hope that it gets off to a good start and then gets even bigger in coming years.

“This will hopefully be a beginning point that will grow through the years,” Vaught said. “We want everyone to please spread the word to their neighbors and relatives. We’d love for as many people as possible to get involved.”