At Around the Coyote (ATC), change, or rather, changes are good. Last year was a change in dates and this year it's a change in locale. But before you get too confused, let me explain that ATC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization located in the Wicker Park neighborhood (1935-1/2 W. North Ave.) that supports and promotes Chicago's multidisciplinary arts community, making that community accessible to the public at large. Its activities enhance public discourse and provide creative outlets for emerging artists.

In addition to presenting monthly art exhibitions in their 2,400 square foot gallery, ATC's year-round programming includes multi-media arts festivals featuring visual art, theater, dance, film, music, video and poetry. It has an artist-in-residence program (two artists each year), conducts career development workshops for artists, and provides membership opportunities for artists and art aficionados. Finally in an effort to bring the joys of art to the public at large, ATC has an ambitious educational outreach program for all ages that includes multi-media art workshops, lectures, and collaborations with local schools and agencies.

Long before ATC moved into its first gallery space in June 2000, its principal activity was the annual end-of-summer Around The Coyote Arts Festival, which was held at various gallery and exhibit spaces in the Wicker Park neighborhood. And while the new millennium has seen ATC grow significantly and become much more comprehensive in its mission, the Around The Coyote festival remained its signature event. Well, last year the festival moved its dates to October in order to be a part of Chicago Artist Month and this year it's making an even bigger move: from Wicker Park!

After 19 years in Wicker Park, Around the Coyote is moving its fall emerging art festival to the West Loop in an admirable effort to expand and improve the annual event. The newly dubbed Fall Arts Festival will be held October 17 - 19 in the West Loop, a burgeoning and vibrant art neighborhood, at Plumbers' Hall (1340 W. Washington Blvd ). It will house visual artists' booths as well as host literary readings, film screenings, and music and theatrical performances. Some of the country's best undiscovered painters, sculptors, photographers, installation artists, printmakers, filmmakers, actors, performance artists, musicians and poets will exhibit, sell and perform their work - all under one roof.

But the change in venue isn't the only change ATC is making to its fall art festival. This year there will be a Best New Artist Award, presented to one deserving artist selected by Around the Coyote staff and the guest curator, Allison Peters Quinn, Director of Exhibitions at Hyde Park Art Center. The recipient of this award will receive $2,000 to be used as the artist sees fit, in furtherance of their practice.

In addition to Quinn (who will be curating visual art), other curators for the 2008 Fall Arts Festival will be Catherine Forster (film) , Kristi McGuire (literary) , Seth Vanek and Aaron Rodgers (music), Oriana Fowler (theatre), and Daniel Tucker (public art).