[verbatim] Preparations are underway for Downtown Jackson to play host to the twenty-second annual Jackson Arts & Music Festival, better known as Jubilee!JAM. Organizers for the 2009 celebration have set the dates for Friday and Saturday, June 19 and 20.

Included in the plans for this year's festival is a juried fine arts and crafts market. "The JAM Arts Fair is a wonderful opportunity for local and regional artisans to exhibit and sell their work" said Roy Adkins, arts fair coordinator.

Jubilee!JAM is also working to expand the arts fair site to make additional space for the increase in arts and crafts exhibitors. "The number of out of state applicants has pleasantly surprised us; combining that with the high level of local art quality, I think we are poised to transform the area surrounding the Mississippi Governor's Mansion into a national level art fair," said Adkins.

Local Mississippi artists are encouraged to apply quickly due to the limited number of booth spaces. Exhibitor applications are available online at http://jubileejam.com. Applicants' work will be judged and awarded entry into the festival by some of the biggest names in Mississippi art including Wyatt Waters, P. Sanders McNeal, George Berry, Sr. and Anthony DiFatta. The panel of jurors will also award $2500 in cash prizes to the market's most outstanding exhibitors, and work will be selected for the permanent collections of both the Mississippi Museum of Art and the Mississippi Craftsmen's Guild. "From the great panel of jurors to the cash prizes, we are expecting the caliber of art work to be some of the best ever grouped together in Jackson," said Stephen Barnette, JAM staff member.

The Jubilee!JAM Arts Fair will be free to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 20. This is the first time in many years that a significant portion of the popular street festival will not require a ticket for entry. It is also the first time in recent years that JAM will open its gates to festival goers in the morning. A family-oriented Kid!JAM and multiple performance stages featuring local and regional musicians will surround the Arts Fair during the day.

For more information or to apply for art exhibit space go to http://jubileejam.com. The artist application deadline is May 15, 2009.