Plans are underway to aggressively advertise the Saluda Arts Festival in print media, radio and TV in Western North Carolina and the Upstate of South Carolina.

Artists can win up to $1,500 in cash awards and judges for the arts festival will be:

Robert Dunning, a professor of art at UNCA, where he is chairman of the art department. He has a BFA in drawing and painting and an MFA in printmaking. His artwork is on display at Blue Spiral Gallery in Asheville.

Ben Pfingstag has a MFA in painting and a PhD in art history. He taught art for 10 years at Norwich University in Vermont, and currently teaches continuing education in art at Blue Ridge Community College and Isothermal College.

Terry Holland is an interior designer from Macon, Ga., who has purchased original art for hundreds of clients during his 30 plus years in the interior design business. His personal collection includes paintings, ceramics and glass, which he has placed in his homes in Franklin, N.C., Beaufort, S.C. and Macon, Ga. He has also donated many paintings from his collection to universities, historic homes and museums in Macon, Ga., and Asheville, N.C.

Festival visitors will hear musical performances by One Leg Up, the Swayback Sisters and the Appalachian Brass Quintet.

Based in Asheville, N.C., One Leg Up performs a mixture of upbeat Gypsy Jazz, Latin, swing and original jazz compositions and is a favorite of club, concert and festival stages throughout the southeastern United States.

The Swayback Sisters are Laura Blackley, Nikki Talley and Lyndsay Wojcik. This Asheville-based roots trio decided to join forces and create a diverse musical experience for themselves as well as their audiences. While each sister is proficient in her songwriting and guitar work, they also blend their voices in three-part harmony.

The Appalachian Brass Quintet from Brevard, N.C., is a five-piece musical ensemble of acclaimed musicians that have played with many orchestras and chamber groups.

Twenty students from The Dancer’s Extension will also perform their spring concert at the Saluda School auditorium at 11 a.m. on the day of the festival.

Contact Susie Welsh at 828-749-3900 or Catherine Ross at 828-243-8696 or email sswelsh@tds.net for more information.