From Spotsylvania County:
The Spotsylvania County Museum partners with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts for a unique, first-of-its-kind, FREE art event leading up to the annual Spotsy Arts Festival in August. Join us for a weekend filled with fine art and history as the VMFA Artmobile makes a special appearance at the Spotsylvania County Museum at Lick Run for the Two-in-One Art Event on Saturday, June 26 from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. and Sunday, June 27 from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m.
It’s two museums, in one location. Visit both museums, take a guided tour, chat with the county museum’s curator and view an exceptional art collection open for this weekend only. With special art activities for kids, artisan vendors and tempting cuisine from area food trucks, it’s fun for the entire family! The Spotsylvania County Museum is located at 6159 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407. Parking and entry for both museums are free.
VMFA’s state-of-the-art traveling museum and art studio launched in October 2018. The climate-controlled 53-foot Volvo trailer includes Wi-Fi to connect visitors with VMFA educators and interactive components to meet their 21st-century expectations. The main attraction of VMFA on the Road, however, is the opportunity for residents of the Commonwealth to see and experience works of art from the VMFA collection up close. VMFA on the Road is traveling to remote corners of Virginia by way of the museum’s Statewide Partners program, which includes 1,000 locations—from community centers and small museums to colleges and universities.
The Spotsylvania County Museum sits on land attributed to the first days of fighting at the Battle of Chancellorsville, May 1863, in a park-like setting. The area is buffered by land under the control of the American Battlefield Trust and features wayside exhibits and a hiking trail. The facility consists of over 1,000 square feet of exhibit space and tells a comprehensive history of Spotsylvania from 1721 to the early 1900s. The exhibit gallery features artifacts, photographs and documents from the earliest inhabitants to the development of industry and agriculture. Special emphasis is given to local citizens who helped shape Spotsylvania and our Nation.
The Spotsy Arts Festival is a two-day, annual event held on the historic Courthouse lawn in August. This judged art contest brings in over 50 artists and artisans from up and down the east coast to Spotsylvania County, selling everything from drift wood sculptures and locally hand-crafted knives, to nature photography and beaded jewelry. With over 1,500 visitors, the Spotsy Arts Festival has proven to be a valuable asset for regional tourism with continued growth each year. To learn more about the Spotsy Arts Festival, visit www.spotsyartsfestival.com or follow on Facebook @SpotsyArtsFestival. This year’s event takes place August 14 & 15.
