CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The work of over 125 artists will be on display at Claudius Crozet Park Oct. 11-12 for the 45th anniversary of the Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival. Festival director Eva Herr says over the course of the last 45 years, the twice annual festival is only increasing in popularity.

“We’ve been growing in numbers,” Herr said in an interview with Cville Right Now, “I think just because of the high quality of the art and because of how unique these handmade works are.”

The festival began in 1980 and since then has become a premier showcase for art across a wide array of media in Central Virginia.  Those works include different media and concentrations from the selected artists.

“We’ve got so many different categories of art, everything from fiber to clay to woodworking, metalworking, painting, photography,” Herr said.

Artists and their works are selected by a jury. The jury selection window starts months in advance, with jurors beginning their session for the fall festival in February. The long leadup and process can be attributed to the growing number of submissions the festival receives. Herr noted that the number of submissions far outpaces the artists accepted for display

Part of that selection process is making sure the patrons of the festival are seeing something different at every showing.

“There’s always some returning artists and some new artists, so it’s never the same festival twice,” Herr explained, “There’s always something new to see.”

The art on display invites community from Crozet, Charlottesville, and across central Virginia.

“The whole Crozet community definitely gathers around this festival, but the greater Charlottesville community does too,” said Herr.

Festival attendants can enjoy works of art from locals but also pieces from artists across the country as the festival has grown in popularity.

“Our artists are not just local, they’re regional from out of state and also, you know, kind of nationwide,” she said.

The Crozet Arts & Crafts Festival is October 11-12 at Claudius Crozet Park. Find single day and weekend pass tickets here.