Columbia Art Museum Announces Return of Arts & Draught Series, beg. 8/5

The Columbia Museum of Art welcomes back the wildly popular Arts & Draughts series featuring interactive First Friday experiences beginning Friday, August 5 at 7:00 p.m.

"Arts & Draughts started as an idea to engage a new audience, to give a younger adult group a chance to do something fun on a Friday night at the Museum. It has since evolved in to an overwhelmingly successful night bringing in 700 to 800 people each time to mix, mingle and have a new experience at the Museum," public programs coordinator, Shannon Burke, said.

Building on the success of the Museum's initiative to change the way young audiences perceive Museums, this season Arts & Draughts promises to bring in even more local and national favorites. The party-like atmosphere of the event engages guests with the art and with the Museum, many for the first time. Every party, participants enjoy high-octane, interactive Do-It-Yourself art projects, beer tastings, local bands, nationally recognized performers and unique perspective gallery tours throughout the Museum.

.The first Arts & Draughts party is Friday, August 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the Museum and features food trucks: 2 Fat 2 Fly and Bone-In Artisan BBQ and music by the multimedia carnival rock extravaganza New York Disco Villains and bluegrass, folk-rock group Tom Hall and the Plowboys.

To kick-off the party, Cycle Center hosts their weekly beer ride that begins and ends at the Museum. Guests take a unique perspective tour of An Artist's Eye and Michael Kenna: Venezia with popular local blogger and artist Shigeharu Kobyashi and indulge in a beer tasting from Kona Brewing Company featuring Wailua Wheat, Firerock Pale Ale and Longboard Lager. Guests also create D.I.Y. postcards to send and receive and watch a live figure drawing session with Dr. Sketchy.

"Arts & Draughts has been a breath of fresh air in my routine and has "livened" things up a bit. I love the fact that this event brings such a diverse crowd downtown and really highlights one of Columbia's best assets," Arts & Draughts guest Andy Clifton said. Arts & Draughts is sponsored by The Whig, WXRY, Free Times and Earth Fare.

This party is $8 / $5 for members / Free for joining or renewing at the event.

For further information, please visit:  columbiamuseum.org.

The Columbia Museum of Art is located in the heart of downtown Columbia, South Carolina (1515 Main Street), just blocks from the State Capitol building, University of South Carolina campus, great hotels and restaurants of all kinds. Public parking garages are located nearby, and City Center Partnership's Downtown Hospitality Team - look for their yellow shirts - ensures a safe, clean and friendly downtown environment.