TARFEST

by Nina Boutsikaris | Published October 1, 2007

Los Angeles is a place where budding artists gather, work, live and play. So it’s no coincidence that a festival founded to encourage the exposure of moviemakers, musicians and artists at all stages of their development should take place in the historic Miracle Mile district of Los Angeles. TARFEST, named for the La Brea Tar Pits of the area, is sponsored by the Miracle Mile Players, a group that feels their city, and the Miracle Mile in particular, needs and wants more community, pedestrian, cultural and really fun-events.

“After all,” says Jeannine Schechter, director of public relations for the fest, “most people in L.A. are not from L.A.; they remember street fairs and access to really good arts and culture programming in Chicago, New York, Cleveland, St. Louis, London, Paris—wherever they are from.”

That’s not to say the Los Angeles doesn’t have its more than fair share of major cultural institutions, many of which are clustered around the Miracle Mile. However, TARFEST has added a new stage for the emerging artist and the audiences who appreciate them. TARFEST is strong in its belief that quality artists can grow and flourish when they have the opportunities to exhibit their work to diverse communities.

Support and popularity has only increased since the event started five years ago. Last year organizers presented eight different programs at seven venues over four days, with more than 60 visual artist exhibitions, 26 films screening and more than 12 musical acts and DJs performing with a weekend attendance of more than 7,000 people! This year from October 5-7, come check out concerts, film screening, arts workshops, installations, sculptures, paintings, drawings, photography, mixed media and informational lectures.