ABILENE, Texas — The Abilene Cultural Affairs Council and the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature have decided to postpone the 2020 Children’s Art & Literacy Festival along with the Loren Long art exhibit until June 10-12, 2021.
The decision was made in consideration of the participants' the health and safety. The planned celebration for artist Sophie Blackwell planned for that date will be moved to June 9-11, 2022.
In a press release Long said, “While I’m disappointed not to celebrate CALF this June by opening my exhibition, I am extremely proud of the efforts we are all taking to ensure our neighbors and friends stay safe and healthy.”
He said he looks forward to exploring the exhibition further and finally get to Abilene.
Registrations for CALF 2020 are being moved to CALF 2021 automatically and require no further action.
Participants wanting a full refund can email operations@abilenecac.org.
Registration for CALF 2021 will remain open through the rest of the year.
Orders, reserved spots for workshops and costume contest registrations are included in the registrations being moved to 2021.
The CALF 2020 Loren Long shirts and totes have been printed and will be used. Specific 2021 merchandise will not be produced.
Anyone wanting to keep their registration can pick up their shirts early once the office reopens to the public.
ACAC will be celebrating “The Year of Loren Long” through next summer and wills announce details on their social me pages.
Executive Director of ACAC, Lynn Barnett said, “We are so sorry to share the news of the postponement of CALF 2021, but excited that all the pieces are in place to partner with the NCCIL to make this the best CALF ever.”
Although news of the postponement was disappointing, Barnett looks forward to welcoming Loren, Otis and CALF to the Storybook Capital of America next summer.
NCCIL Executive Director, Trish Dressen, said she was disappointed with the postponement of the festival and exhibition but looks forward to next year’s celebration of both.
The festival has been a tradition since 2012 and is one of the reasons Abilene was named the Story Capital of Texas. Last year’s festival brought 5,200 people from 91 Texas cities and 12 states.
