BELFAST — Do you have a hidden, or not-so-hidden talent to share?

The Belfast Creative Coalition (BCC) is looking for local talent from Waldo County to participate in a telethon-style "INSPIRE-A-THON" on Sunday, Sept. 28 at Troy Howard Middle School. This is a call to everyone from age five to 95 with a 3-6 minute routine of any artistic genre who would like to apply for a place in the show's lineup.

Individuals or groups, organized or just a one-time pick up session, are all welcome to apply: comedians, musicians, poets, martial arts, jugglers, mimes, unicyclists, dancers, or visual artists with an appropriate rehearsed demonstration. Visual artists and farmers who want to be part of the INSPIRE-A-THON, but require an on-location video, may also apply. Brief video segments will be interspersed between the live, on-stage performances.

Kimberly Callas, Executive Director of The Belfast Creative Coalition explained, "One of BCC's goals is to market Waldo County arts and culture locally and regionally showcasing the area's three gems of art, local food and beautiful land. To that end, the INSPIRE-A-THON will be an all-encompassing event: a showcase for local talent, a preview of the 2014 Cultivate: Belfast Area Farm and Arts Trail in October, and to serve as a membership fundraising drive for the Coalition.

This first four-hour "BCC INSPIRE-A-THON" will be televised on BCTV2 and also streamed live via the internet to areas outside the TV station's range. There will be a live phone bank for call-in donations as well as a donate link on BCC's website: www.belfastcreativecoalition.org

BCC would like to feature as many individuals or groups as possible. Application deadline is Aug. 15. Once BCC has all the applications, a performance schedule will be organized. Please be aware that there are only four hours and BCC will do its best to include all applicants if possible.

To apply, email who you are, what you do (in less than 50 words), how to reach you and an image if available to info@belfastcreativecoalition.org.

Many of you remember what fun it was to see kids, grandkids, colleagues and neighbors share their talent live from a local TV station's studios to support a worthy cause. Before the big celebrities, before the national sponsorships, it was all about showcasing the skills, inventiveness and abilities within one's own community. Project organizer and board member Elaine Bielenberg said, "That's what BCC's INSPIRE-A-THON is all about: Finding what talent resides in Waldo County; what creative ideas live on the back roads, the city streets or in the offices and workplaces right here in the greater Belfast area?"

The Belfast Creative Coalition is all about inspiring and promoting the creative individuals and groups who strengthen our local economy. It is an independent yet integral part of the city's efforts to sustain the vitality and grow the economy of Belfast and Waldo County. The fundraising/membership drive, during the INSPIR-A-THON, is only one aspect of the day's events at Troy Howard. There will also be art projects for the entire family, a petting zoo, demos and products available from the participants of the Cultivate Fall Tour scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday Oct. 12.