Tinsel Town Looks to Home of Southern Pioneers to "Inspire the Nation

to Honor Creativity"

Community that nurtured America's "First Lady of Courage" and "the Father of the Blues", Readies for "The Annie

Blackburn Arts Festival", July 2-5, 2008

Approximately 2,000 miles southeast of the glitz and glamour of Hollywood USA,

nestled between the banks of the Tombigbee Waterway and The Tennessee River, is home to American pioneers that

changed cultural perspectives on learning, expression and creativity. Rated one of the top 10 places in America for

retirement, the community that nurtured the First Lady of Courage, Helen Keller and the Father of the Blues, W.C.

Handy, inspires the nation to honor creativity during

The Annie Blackburn's Arts Festival, July 2-5, 2008 in Florence, AL. 35630

What began as a few instructional classes for the residents of "The Shoals" area is now one of the only festivals

dedicated to honoring creativity with working professionals at the helm. Florence, AL, the classic American city with a

mixture of delights, treasures, southern hospitality and charm, is the place where pioneers such as Keller and Handy

began to change humanity. The Annie Blackburn Arts Festival provides creative arts workshops & classes taught by

professionals from Los Angeles, CA, New York, NY and Atlanta, GA in the disciplines of visual arts, dance, modeling,

acting, and digital editing.

Named for respected resident of the area, Annie Blackburn, The Annie Blackburn's Arts Festival pays tribute to a

woman, who for over 90 years encouraged a community give back and to dream beyond boundaries.

Cedric

Pendleton, a seasoned actor and native of Florence whose credits include roles on House of Payne, The Shield, NYPD

Blue along with several television and film appearances says, "Annie Blackburn was a woman who possessed a strong

spirit and the ability to give back. Although she never had children of her own, she never missed an opportunity to inspire people in the community to give of themselves, their time and their talents. This festival is a wonderful way tohonor her legacy and introduce this area to the grand stage that is Hollywood."

Cedric and his brother Michi an accomplished visual artist whose work has been displayed at The High Museum of Art (Atlanta) and

commissioned by Toyota Motor Corporation and The Coca-Cola Company, will direct workshops and classes during

the festival.

Organizers of The Annie Blackburn's Arts Festival believe the festival holds a great deal of promise, as the Pendleton brothers note, "There are many cultural spheres that exist outside of the Hollywood and we want to grow this

festival in the same way that Sundance has grown." It is places like Florence that remind us of the pioneers who dared

to dream, and thus sparked changes in music, expression and learning. We want to encourage people to keep nurturing

dreamers."

Next year Ima get the SSAR to come down we show nuff have a good time.`