Katfish 4 Kids - Volunteers for Youth Justice

PRESS CONFERENCE – December 10, 2007 – 2 p.m.
Speakers: Mayor Cedric Glover and Mayor Lorenz Walker

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For more information contact:
Susan Stafford at 318-425-4413 or Eric Hess at 504-914-1661

Something’s fishy with Shreveport/Bossier’s largest public art project

Shreveport, LA- Volunteers for Youth Justice (VYJ), a nonprofit organization providing dynamic, life-changing programs for abused, neglected and at-risk children in Northwest Louisiana, and Capital One are joining together with local artists, businesses and organizations for the "Katfish4Kids" Festival. Beginning in the summer of 2008, uniquely decorated 4.5 x 5.5 foot fiberglass fish will splash onto the streets of Shreveport and Bossier City, Louisiana. "The main goal of our project is to support the VYJ Carolyn Williams Beaird endowment which ensures the longevity and continued success of VYJ. We also want to support our local artists and promote tourism by bringing accessible public art to our community," says Candy Beaird, co-founder of "Katfish4Kids."

Melody Kiper, a Shreveport native and graduate of Savannah School of Art and Design, designed the fish and will be unveiling her "catch" on Monday, December 10. When the fish hit the streets they will be displayed on concrete bases with a sponsorship plaque placed on the base of each fish displaying the sponsoring company or organization's name, the artist and the title of their catch.

It is estimated that over 100 fish will be produced for the festival and that over 250,000 people will view them. The economic impact will be over $10 million dollars and over 100 local and regional artists will be hired to paint or decorate the katfish.

Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover, Bossier City Mayor Lorenz Walker, Shreveport Regional Arts Council, Arts Council of Bossier, Senator Mary Landrieu and Senator David Vitter, Congressman Jim McCrery, Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, Shreveport/Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau and the Downtown Development Authority support the project.

The katfish will be displayed on the streets of Shreveport/Bossier beginning next summer for four to six months. The “Katfish4Kids” Festival will conclude with an auction of the fish to raise funds for the Volunteers for Youth Justice endowment. Contact Volunteers for Youth Justice to learn more about katfish sponsorships or visit www.katfish4kids.com.

For additional in formation on Volunteers for Youth Justice and its programs please visit http://www.vyjla.org or call Susan Stafford at 318-425-4413.

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