Artpark Event Attendance Continues Meteoric Rise!

(Lewiston, NY) There's no more ideal way to state it: Artpark continues to draw.

Artpark President George Osborne announced today that the Lewiston venue overcame a slumping economy, volatile weather and increased competition to post a 5.5% increase in overall event attendance from last summer, with more than 230,000 visitors patronizing Artpark concerts, musicals, workshops and family-oriented performances from June to August 2008. These figures - which have risen by 174% since 2002 - are event estimates only and do not include fishermen, hikers and picnickers who comprise another large segment of Artpark's visitors.

On the way to capturing its third consecutive "Best Outdoor Music Series in WNY" award from Buffalo Spree, Artpark's family-friendly free outdoor concert programming on Tuesday and Wednesday nights attracted a 15% overall attendance increase from 2007, and topped the 160,000 mark for the first time ever, despite the presence of a trio of other high-profile versions in the area. Coupling hands-on children's art activities with prominent musical acts has proven to be a winning formula for Artpark & Company, Artpark's not-for-profit programming organization.

And the results have not gone unnoticed.

"Artpark's amazing resurgence as the region's premier summer destination for music and the arts has attracted the support of an ever-expanding cache of corporate sponsors and individual donors," said Christopher H. Brown, the Artpark & Company Chairman who has seen sponsor backing for the non-profit soar almost 30% since last season. "Support for Artpark's unique family programming and top name entertainment draws the interest of businesses that endorse the arts and embrace the linkage to an established brand like Artpark. Sponsor recognition before Artpark's sizeable market audience is a valuable benefit to these supporters."

The eight-week "Wednesdays on the Gorge" series, in particular, grew by leaps and bounds, showing a 99% spike from 2007 with a total patronage of more than 26,000. Flagship events featuring the Buffalo-born jam band moe. (July 9) and Canadian import Sam Roberts (July 30) each attracted 5,000-plus concertgoers.

However, "First Niagara Tuesday in the Park" remains Artpark's largest attraction with an estimated 135,500 people trekking to Lewiston for 13 weekly free concerts by mainstream, national performers such as Trisha Yearwood, Three Dog Night, America, Michael McDonald and Kansas.

Artpark's musical production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast welcomed a litany of fresh faces and seasoned patrons, outdrawing the venue's acclaimed 2007 presentation of Elton John & Tim Rice's AIDA by nearly 7,000 theatergoers, a 60% jump. Ticket buyers flocked to Artpark's big-budget, all-ages theater offering to witness an astonishing stage presentation accentuated by a highly-professional cast of actors plucked directly from Broadway and national tours.

Revisiting its visual arts roots, Artpark hosted a brand new outdoor sculpture competition this summer, titled "EDGES '08," which began with a national call for artists yielding 19 contest submissions. The top eight entrants - determined by a committee - were chosen for on-site display beginning May 29. Buffalo State College Professor of Design Robert L. Wood then selected Lawrence Kinney's "Spalted Device" as the $2,500 grand prize recipient in an onstage presentation June 3. The works of all eight finalists will remain on display thru September 15.

Artpark's well-rounded summer schedule also included the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's fifth consecutive summer residency, an August performance by The Irish Tenors, four big band concerts, an art gallery housing works from the Buffalo Society of Artists, working visual artists in the park, on-school-time theater shows, children's art and theater camps, and a kaleidoscope of free, family-oriented, imaginative programming.

The park will celebrate its 35th Anniversary next season, and park officials are planning for a Spring gala to unveil an even more dynamic Artpark schedule to commemorate the milestone.

Patrons who would like to be the first to receive anniversary season announcements are advised to contact the Artpark Box Office at (716) 754-4375 and join Artpark's e-mail list by enrolling at www.artpark.net.