Thursday, March 28, 2024

BUILD A GINGERBREAD HOUSE

Keeping with Tradition, 14th Annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest at Artists’ Exchange

F GINGER 2018-Gingerbread-School-Flyer

Cranston, RI – Artists’ Exchange announces its 14th annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest! The event is scheduled for Saturday, December 1st from 9 am to 5 pm at the Artists’ Exchange, located at 50 Rolfe Square in Cranston.

How does it work? Participants start with a simple graham cracker construction and craft it into a work of art. There are heaping supplies of frosting, cereal, pretzels and of course, an array of colorful candy to decorate your dream candy home. And with no age limit, everyone is invited to join in on the fun!

“The Gingerbread Decorating Contest is a family tradition for so many families in the neighborhood, not just for the staff and students, but the community as well. It is exciting to see families return year after year and watch how the children and the event have grown. This is my 11th year working to organize the event and every year is more fun than the last.” says Shannon Casey, the event’s coordinator and Director of Visual Arts Programming at Artists’ Exchange. Casey says attendance grows every year, so she and the staff are gearing up for a big crowd. Construction on the houses has already begun, and with the help of volunteers, Artists’ Exchange plans to have at least 600 houses by the week before the event. “It’s a lot of work to prepare for, but it’s absolutely worth it!” The studios will then be transformed into a holiday wonderland, creating an atmosphere designed to inspire childlike wonder and creativity.

Before returning home with their houses, participants can submit their creations for judging in their corresponding age category. Families can also opt to work on a house together and enter for judging in a separate family category. This year there will be a special guest appearance from Santa Claus himself to help judge some of the entries. Our team of Judges, consisting of local artists and art teachers, photograph and rate all the houses based on creativity, attention to detail, imagination and most of all, thinking “outside the house!” Winners will be announced on our website and social media on December 3rd. Prizes include Artists’ Exchange class gift certificates towards classes in our upcoming winter session.

Discounted registration for the winter session of classes is also available at the event. Be sure to check the schedule on the Artists’ Exchange website before coming because all class registrations processed on the day of the event will get 20% off tuition.

Also included in the weekend’s festivities will be holiday grab bags, raffles, face painting, and artwork from students and artist residents on display and for sale. Top it off by commemorating the day with the giant gingerbread house and Abominable Snowman photo booths. Be sure to share your memories with Artists’ Exchange on Facebook and Instagram follow us to stay up-to-date on all the great events and activities happening!

Reservations are strongly recommended

For reservations visit

www.artists-exchange.org/gingerbreadevent.html

Contest Cost: $15 per house. $13 in advance (online only waive the fee with the code GBRD18)

Questions: visit www.artists-exchange.org

Location: 50 Rolfe Square in Cranston.

ABOUT ARTISTS’ EXCHANGE

Artists’ Exchange is a nonprofit art collaborative whose mission is to create an atmosphere in which creativity, learning, and discovery converge and individuality is celebrated. Artists’ Exchange houses The Black Box Theatre and multiple art studios, as well as a gallery, art boutique and café, and offers enriching classes and weekly events in art, theatre, music and film.

Artists’ Exchange is owned and operated by Gateways to Change; a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing of the quality of life for all human beings.