ILLINOIS – The ethnic and folk arts of the Midwest"s postWorld War II immigrant populations, as well as traditional pre-World War II art forms such as blues and bluegrass, are on the schedule for the ninth annual Midwest Folk Festival Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1 and 2, in Bishop Hill.

Hours for the Midwest Folk Festival are: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, (concluding with a barn dance); and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2.

"The annual festival is free and open to the public, offering live music and dance performances, hands-on learning opportunities, master artist demonstrations, craft displays and fun for all ages," a representative said.

Alternately hosted in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois, the 2009 Midwest Folk Festival is sponsored and produced by the Illinois Arts Council, Bishop Hill Heritage Association, and Company of Folk, in cooperation with the Bishop Hill Historic Site, Bishop Hill Arts Council, Iowa Arts Council and the Wisconsin Arts Board.

"Through the arts we find common understanding," said Shirley R. Madigan, Illinois Arts Council chairman. "The rich mix of cultures showcased at this year"s Midwest Folk Festival reflects significant shifts in our region"s ethnic makeup and presents an invaluable opportunity for people to discover, learn from, and enjoy the arts that truly are all around us."

"The once-bustling 19th century communal settlement of Bishop Hill, in Illinois" western Henry County, preserves a cultural legacy and provides an exciting location for this event, which has drawn thousands of visitors throughout the country in recent years," she said.

Bishop Hill is 10 miles southwest of Kewanee and about 84 miles from Ottawa. The time of drive is estimated at about 90 minutes.

For more information about the festival, including a full schedule and links to artist information, visit www.state.il.us/agency/iac or contact Susan Dickson, Director of Ethnic and Folk Arts, Illinois Arts Council at 312-814-6740.

This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information regarding Bishop Hill visit http://www.bishophill.com

or www.bishophillartscouncil.com or www.visithenrycounty.com.