Holiday Craft Fair Part of Downtown Albany's 1st Friday in December

ALBANY, NY (11/29/2010)(readMedia)-- The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) has teamed up with the Broadway Art Center (BAC) to present a Holiday Festival and Artisan Fair on December 3, 2010, 11am to 7pm, in The Arcade Building - 488 Broadway, Albany, NY. This event is being held in conjunction with the monthly 1st Friday Albany event. Festivities will include a craft fair in The Arcade with the work of local artisans featuring pottery, jewelry, fiber art, Indian crafts, floral arrangements and many more treasures.

The Broadway Art Center, a thriving gallery run solely on volunteer power, celebrated its 2nd Anniversary in September. "We owe our success to the generosity of the Landlord and the continuing support of the BID as well as the downtown Albany workforce," said Sally Spring, Co-Director of the BAC. "We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to our loyal customers." Georgette Steffens, Executive Director of the Downtown Albany BID, praised the efforts of the BAC: "For the last few years, the Downtown Albany BID staff has been looking to organize an effort such as this as a creative use of vacant space, particularly at holiday or peak gift-giving times. We are pleased that the BAC had the interest by their members to create this first-time event."

Meanwhile, inside the BAC's gallery, the 3rd Annual Holiday Art and Gift Extravaganza, featuring affordable art work, is up and running and will continue through January 21, 2011. The gallery is regularly open Monday – Friday 11am to 2pm and 11am to 9pm on 1st Fridays.

The BAC also presents the opening of "Pressed and Folded - Works by Ruby Silvious. This impressive display in the Ann Roberts Room of the BAC includes origami and mono prints. The artist will be available on December 3rd to discuss her work. For more information about the Craft Fair or BAC, call Susan Rivers at 518-756-3649.

The Broadway Art Center – the Arcade Building – is located at 488 Broadway at the corner of Pine St. and Maiden Lane. It is two short blocks from Albany Center Gallery and 4 blocks from the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center at Quackenbush Square.

# # #

The Broadway Art Center is a member gallery of The Colonie Art League which is a private, not-for profit 501 (c) (3) organization that works to promote art in the community. The League provides artists engaged in the creation of fine art with a place to meet on a professional, cultural and social level. It offers art demonstrations to the public, sponsors college scholarships for the study of art, and conducts an annual "art camp" for elementary school students. In addition to monthly art exhibits at venues around the capital region, the league strives to improve the quality of life through art for all who work in, live in, and visit the Capital City. The 300+ member Colonie Art League draws its membership from the entire Capital Region.