Local artists are being invited to share their work at ARTScotland’s second annual arts and crafts fair as part of downtown Laurinburg’s annual Christmas on Main Street celebration.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for Scotland County folks to recognize the great art in the county and to shop locally,” said ARTScotland facilitator Jan Schmidt.

As a venue for talented local artists to display and sell of their creative work, the arts fair is just the latest example of the Storytelling and Arts Center of the Southeast living its mission.

“Part of our mission is to be a catalyst for economic development, to develop community cohesion and to expand the quality of life for people in the area,” Schmidt said. The Storytelling and Arts Center is serving as a parent entity for ARTScotland and as a partner in the fair along with Art by Design.

A juried event, the fair will be held on Nov. 17 with entertainment provided by the Jessie Janes as well as Zach Fore.

“We had 17 artists last year, and we expect for it to grow this year and every year,” said fair promoter Jennifer McRae. “We were really pleased last year with (the money) that was made for ARTScotland and for the artists.”

McRae said that the group is “hoping” for more than 20 artists this year. Already booked are pottery workers, as well as artists creating paper art, jewelry, soap, paintings, stationary, glass works, wreaths and photographs. Local authors are also expected.

The fair will coincide with Christmas on Main on Sunday, Nov. 18, with entertainment provided by the the Storytelling and Arts Center’s monthly bluegrass jam. It will be held at the Storytelling and Arts Center on

South Main Street in Laurinburg. The center’s coffee shop, “Coffee, Tea, and Thee,” will be open for refreshments both days.

Artists interested in participating at fair may submit an electronic application and three jpeg format photos representative of the work they plan to display and sell at the event to artscotland@gmail.com. Requests for registration materials should also be sent to that e-mail address.

For those who prefer, they may mail their submissions to ARTScotland/SACS at P.O. Box 2154, Laurinburg, NC 28353.

Registrations and attached photos must be submitted no later than Nov. 1. All submissions will be juried, and notifications of acceptance to the art exhibition will be sent out by Nov. 2.

Anyone interested in the arts is invited to attend ARTScotland meetings held at 8:30 a.m. on the third Friday of each month at the Storytelling and Arts Center. The next meeting is Nov. 16.

E-mail artscotland@gmail.com for information about ARTScotland or the fair or print an application at www.storyartscenter/artscotland.htm