Stories - An Occasion for the Arts

Sound Booth

The Sound Booth is an invitation to share a memory about art, music, or performance—and to listen to the stories people carry with them. The idea grew from work with UrbanSoundArt in Fredrikstad, Norway and the Sharesound project, which invites…

October 6, 2026 Read More

News

Festival Weather Update: Sunday’s Schedule and Venue Changes

Most festival activities are happening as planned on Sunday. Main Street Artists, Front Porch, Block Party performances, and Patrons Patio will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Due to the weather, all activities in the Avant Garden area…

October 4, 2026 Read More

News

Automatic Occasional: An Official 2026 Playlist for An Occasion for the Arts 58 songs

58 years of an arts festival expressed through 58 things we want to hear now. The playlist begins with Dijon’s “Automatic” and ends, several worlds later, with Phoenix Chorale’s “Northern Lights.” Between them is a fairly improbable collection: Melt-Banana, the…

October 4, 2026 Read More

News

An Occasion for the Arts — Artist Awards Mixer

Saturday, October 3 | 5:30–7:00 p.m. AOFTA Block Party — Main Stage Free & Open to All! Enjoy music from DJ Rick Geez, a live poetry performance by Lacroy “Atlas” Nixon, and the presentation of this year’s Main Street Artist…

October 1, 2026 Read More

News

VA Unlocked: A Sound Walk of Virginia Hip-Hop History

During An Occasion for the Arts 2026, VA Unlocked invites you to listen as you stroll. An immersive sound walk exploring Virginia hip-hop culture, VA Unlocked brings together voices, stories, places, and people who helped shape it. Through oral histories,…

October 1, 2026 Read More

News

2026 Block Party Performances Announced

We've announced the artists performing this year in the Block Party area!

September 27, 2026 Read More

Regional Artists Spotlight Series

Regional Artists Spotlight Series – Round Six

Every artist begins with a different point of inspiration, an unforgettable landscape, a meaningful memory, a carefully honed process, or a desire to see the familiar in a new way. The artists featured in this final edition of our Regional…

July 16, 2026 Read More

Regional Artists Spotlight Series

Regional Artists Spotlight Series – Round Five

Art often begins with curiosity, a closer look at the natural world, an appreciation for everyday beauty, or a willingness to experiment with new ideas and materials. In this installment of our Regional Artist Spotlight Series, the featured artists draw…

July 13, 2026 Read More

Regional Artists Spotlight Series

Regional Artists Spotlight Series – Round Four

The Regional Artist Spotlight Series celebrates the depth and diversity of creative talent found throughout Virginia and the surrounding region. This collection brings together artists working across a wide range of disciplines, each contributing a distinctive perspective shaped by years…

July 13, 2026 Read More

Regional Artists Spotlight Series

Regional Artists Spotlight Series – Round Three

The Virginia artists in this collection draw inspiration from the natural world in many different ways. Some work directly from landscapes, plants, and wildlife, while others explore nature through color, pattern, material, or process. Together, they reveal the richness of…

July 12, 2026 Read More

Regional Artists Spotlight Series

Regional Artists Spotlight Series – Round Two

The artists featured in this second Regional Artist Spotlight represent a remarkable range of mediums, techniques, and perspectives. Working in paint, fiber, clay, glass, photography, jewelry, printmaking, and mixed media, they transform personal experiences, natural landscapes, cultural traditions, and everyday…

July 9, 2026 Read More

Regional Artists Spotlight Series

Regional Artists Spotlight Series – Round One

For more than five decades, An Occasion for the Arts has celebrated creativity in all its forms, bringing artists and audiences together through one of Virginia’s longest-running arts festivals. As we look ahead to this year’s juried art, student art,…

July 9, 2026 Read More

News

2026 Applications Close Tonight

Final call for artists: applications for the 2026 An Occasion for the Arts close tonight. For nearly 60 years, An Occasion for the Arts has brought together artists, makers, performers, and audiences in one of the region’s longest-running celebrations of contemporary…

May 8, 2026 Read More

News

Meet the 2026 Jurors

We’re pleased to announce the jurors for 2026. This year’s panel includes six jurors, three representing 2D work and three representing 3D, each bringing a distinct perspective to the selection process. Their collective insight will help shape a thoughtful and…

April 21, 2026 Read More

Opportunities

Local Features: Calling Artists from Williamsburg & Across Virginia — Emerging Voices Welcome

We’re inviting artists from Williamsburg and across Virginia to share their work as part of our online features for An Occasion for the Arts 2026. This initiative is separate from the juried artist show and is not part of the…

April 21, 2026 Read More

News

Introducing the Next Chapter of An Occasion for the Arts

For nearly sixty years, An Occasion for the Arts has brought together artists, neighbors, and visitors in a shared celebration of creativity in Williamsburg. Over time, the festival has grown not only in size but in how it presents and…

April 17, 2026 Read More

News

Thank You to Our Local Artists

On February 23rd, we gathered with local artists from across the Williamsburg community - and it was an honest and meaningful evening. Thank you to everyone who came out to meet with us and, just as importantly, to meet one…

April 17, 2026 Read More