Calling all photographers to be on the alert that Photofest will take place in October this year. Photo drop-off will take place in early October. Prizes will be awarded for the bet works! Any size medium or subject matter will be accepted. Funding assistance in part with a grant from the Southbridge Cultural Council, a local agency and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

This "Public Art" project was formed by sisters Janina and Nancy Swiacki who spearheaded the committee to create a gift of public art. The sculpture, a 20 foot eyeglass frame will be located in the park across from the old entrance to the American Optical Company. The sculpture will be created by master metal smith Michael J. Saari who has a studio in Woodstock, CT (www.michaelsaari.com). For more information on this endeavor for the arts go to Dick Whitney's website: www.dickwhitney.net. QVCAH is acting as the fiduciary and anyone wishing to make a tax deductible contribution can do so by making their check payable to QVCAH and mailing it to 111 Main Street, Southbridge, MA 01550 (please put "Optical Sculpture" in the memo line of check. Of note: the Claire Birtz Foundation (the late Claire Birtz was a local artist and art teacher who designed the Town Seal) has offered to match contributions of 50% to a maximum of $20000.00. May 27th-The Optical Sculpture project is well underway, currently approximately 1/3 of the monies have been raised and a check for $15,000 was recently issued to the artistisan-Michael Saari.

New addition to the Arts Center property! A 6 foot gray container, located at the rear of the parking lot near the Gateway dumpster. Donate your books: hardcover, paperback, new, old, textbooks, children's, fiction and non-fiction. Also: Videos, CDs, DVDs and audio books. Proceeds will benefit the QVCAH Capital Fund account. PLEASE-no encyclopedias, magazines, newspapers or catalogues.

A wonderful, full-size, blue and white quilt has been donated by Laurel Wilbur of The Fabric Stash, Route 20, in Charlton. Raffle tickets will be sold from now until the drawing on November 14, 2010, the last day of our Holiday Arts & Crafts Show & Sale. Tickets are $2.00 each or three for $5.00 and will be sold at every Arts Center event throughout the year, or you may request tickets by calling the Arts Center at 508-764-3341. The quilt is machine pieced and quilted by Laurel and will be on display at the Arts Center as often as possible. Come and see it for yourself!

The yard Sale Fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, September 18 (rain date September 19) from 9am to 2pm. Donate your items for us to sell, or purchase a space on the front lawn for $15.00. Please bring your own tables. For donations, please no: clothes, TVs, Computers, Exercise equipment and no books. Books can be left in outback parking lot in the GOT BOOKS donation box. Contact the Arts Center after August 15 to schedule a drop off time or to reserve your space on the lawn.