IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE shopping Downtown in the next few weeks, be sure and drop by the Ventura Visitors and Convention Bureau and the nearby Museum of Ventura County's temporary headquarters to look at the beautiful hand-painted chairs from local artists that were donated to the Ventura Musical Festival's auction.

Every year Festival organizers ask local artists to hand-decorate various items for their annual fundraiser and the results are always stunning. This time simple wooden chairs were transformed into wow by our resident creative types. Many of the artists were inspired by the Russian theme set by this year's Festival.

Half the chairs will be displayed at the VVCB, 10 S. California St., and the other half at the Museum of Ventura County, 89 S. California St., through Jan. 11. The collection will then be broken up and displayed separately in other locations throughout the county.

The "Musical Chairs" will be auctioned off on Saturday, March 14 at the Festival's White Russian Nights event at the Four Points by Sheraton Ventura Harbor. Festival organizers say the funds raised by these works of art provide an integral part of the Festival's operating revenue. Tickets for the event go on sale in January. Call (805) 648-3146 for more information or visit www.venturamusicfestival.org.

The Ventura Music Festival has become a renowned signature event for our city and has certainly helped put us on the map as a cultural tourist destination.

IN OTHER ART NEWS: Community Memorial Hospital has now officially become part of our "New Art City" with an exhibition by more than 60 local artists in the public areas of the ground floor of the hospital. The exhibit runs through March 1. It is a joint partnership between Community Memorial Hospital, Buenaventura Art Association, Leadership Ventura (Ventura Chamber of Commerce) and Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation. All the work is for sale and benefits the CMH Community Foundation as well as Buenaventura Art Association and the artists.