CALF 2020 delayed to 2021
/APRIL 24, 2020 -
After careful consideration of the health and safety of our participants, 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 and corresponding Loren Long art exhibition until June 10-12, 2021. The celebration previously planned on that date for artist Sophie Blackall will be moved to June 9-11, 2022.
“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,” Long said. “To have the opportunity to showcase my life’s work at the NCCIL and to see children’s pictures book art celebrated in this way, is truly extraordinary. I’m looking forward taking a year to further explore the exhibition and finally get to Abilene!”
Registrations for CALF 2020 will automatically be moved to CALF 2021, so no action is needed for those who want to keep their orders, including any workshops spots they have reserved. Those wanting a full refund can email operations@abilenecac.org. Festival registration for 2021 is open and will remain open throughout the rest of the year.
The ACAC has already printed the CALF 2020 Loren Long shirts and tote bags and plans to still use those. New 2021 specific merchandise will not be produced.
CALF 2020 costume contest registrations will also automatically be moved to CALF 2021. The ACAC office is currently closed to the public and employees are working from home, but when the office reopens, those who want to keep their CALF registration may pick up their shirts early.
The ACAC will be celebrating “The Year of Loren Long” between now and next summer and would love to see Loren Long shirts everywhere. Details about “The Year of Loren Long” will be announced soon. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram (@AbileneCALF) to get the latest festival news.
“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,” said Lynn Barnett, executive director of the ACAC. “We look forward to welcoming Loren, Otis and CALF to the Storybook Capital of America next summer. We especially want to thank our generous sculpture and CALF sponsors, our volunteers, venues and the City of Abilene for making this such a special time for families to get together.”
Trish Dressen, NCCIL executive director, said she was also disappointed the festival and exhibition are postponed, but looking forward to celebrating both next year.
“The partnership the NCCIL has with ACAC to bring this festival to life is as powerful as the overall magic CALF brings. It saddens us greatly to postpone, but it would sadden us even more to have Loren miss the magic seeing those celebrate his work in unique ways that, quite literally, no one in the world does the way Abilene does.”
Last year’s CALF drew 5,200 people from 91 Texas cities and 12 states. The festival is a beloved Abilene tradition since 2012 and was one of the reasons the city was named the Storybook Capital of Texas and America.
