Clawson to Elevate the Arts at New Festival

Clawson will celebrate art, music and literature this Sunday at the city's first at the .

At least 40 vendors from across Michigan will be selling everything from jewelry to paintings and artistic picture frames. There will also be kids arts and crafts activities, author presentations, food and special musical performances by boogie woogie musician and singer/songwriters Tracy Kash Thomas and Angela Predhomme.

Clawson residents Matt Ball and his wife, Lisa, took the lead role in planning the festival. The couple has spent the last decade traveling to festivals and art shows all over the country to showcase their work and wanted to bring that experience to Clawson.

"It's been hectic," Ball said of the planning process. "But we had a lot of help from the city."

The event is being privately funded by the Balls' initiative Elevate the Arts. Mayor Penny Luebs said the event is a step toward her vision of bringing more arts and culture to Clawson.

"I think it will expose more people to different recreational and pleasurable avenues in their life," Luebs said earlier this summer.

Clawson Historical Museum curator Melodie Nichols is planning to sell books about local history at the event. She said the book prices range from $6-$20. 

"I think it’s a great idea to highlight our local talent," Nichols said. 

The event is free and takes place from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Check out a full list of festival participants on the Elevate the Arts website.