Downtown Disney Becomes Lively Outdoor Gallery During Festival of the Masters, Nov. 9-11

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The lakeside setting of Downtown Disney becomes the canvas for more than 150 artisans to display original creations during the 32nd annual Festival of the Masters at Walt Disney World Resort, Nov. 9-11, 2007.

Festival of the Masters, presented by Sharpie®, is a nationally recognized art show which is ranked among the country's best outdoor art festivals each year.

To qualify for Festival of the Masters, artists must have earned a primary award in a juried art festival within the last three years. Prospective exhibitors submit award verification and samples of their art to a jury of art experts who select the participants. This process ensures that visitors to the Festival will be treated to one of the finest collections of art in the nation.

Sculpture, jewelry, painting, photography, glass, and digital art are just some of the art genres showcased at this year's event. Street painters from the Central Florida Chalk Artists Association will decorate some 6,000 square feet of sidewalk with unique drawings. Youngsters can take in the fun with live music, face painting and interactive kid's zones.

House of Blues will celebrate the creative spirit of folk art during the 9th annual "Where the Art Meets the Soul" Folk Art Festival at Downtown Disney West Side.

Collectors Editions presents Disney Performance Artists Trevor Carlton and Stephen Reis who will create an original masterpiece just outside the Virgin Megastore on Saturday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m. The original artwork will be available for purchase through a silent auction.

The fine arts awards ceremony will take place on Saturday at 3 p.m. on the stage near the Virgin Megastore.

Festival hours are 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. each day of the festival. Admission is complimentary.