Several hundred visual and performing artists will entertain visitors on stages, streets and artists markets at the 11th annual Detroit Festival of the Arts scheduled for Friday - Sunday, Sept. 19 - 21, in the University Cultural Center.

This year's special guest is visual artist Denny Dent, dubbed the world's fastest painter, who will appear on the Wayne State Stage. He merges art with music in his astounding technique. With three brushes in each hand he creates mural-size paintings of celebrities in a short time, while selected music plays.

It is a real coup to bring Dent and his two-fisted attack to Detroit, says Susan Mosey, executive director of the University Cultural Center Association (UCCA). "His work is bigger than life and truly will awe audiences," she says.

It is the offbeat and off-center performers, however, who capture the hearts of festivalgoers every year; this year the festival will present seven new street performance groups.

The groups will include crowd pleasers such as Glenn Singer as El Grande and his horse, Sigfrido; Spring Action and Special Blend, two top trampoline acts; and Jake Krack, an 11-year-old Appalachian fiddler. Others are VIDA, a capella world music group; Junkyard Symphony with its unusual instruments; and King Sundiata Keita, a group of stilt walkers, dancers and drummers.

Also new, is Parable of the Great Fish with giant puppets, masked characters and live music presented by the Arm-of-the-Sea Theatre troupe from New York state.

In the juried Artists' Market 130 artists will display and sell their original artwork; the Youth Artists' Market in the IBM Children's Fair will sell children's art.

The Children's Fair on Wayne State's campus will offer dance, music, puppet and theatre performances and 50 hands-on activities for children. The WSU department of dance, Michigan Opera Theatre, Actor's Company, Hejnal Polish Folk Ensemble and African Family Ballet will participate.

All festival concerts are free. The performing stages offer continuous entertainment with international, national and local talent:

· Wayne State Stage on Cass and Putnam with Denny Dent and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra/WQRS-FM radio;

· Center Stage on Kirby east of Wodward with Voices of the Folk, Abdullah Ibrahim Trio, Toronto Tabla Ensemble, Akoben Reggae Band, Laura Love Band, Dervish, Sierra Maestra and Carlos Nunez;

· American Music Cafe with M. L. Liebler & the Magic Poetry Band, Center for Creative Studies faculty, Jake Krack, VIDA, Hakamma, Lonesome & Blue, Kitty Donohoe, Dick Siegel and Voices of the Folk;

· Literary Arts Festival with Edmund White, Lan Cao and others at the Detroit Public Library; and

· Dance Stage, Saturday and Sunday on Woodward.

Other highlights:

· WSU Pavilion with various university units offering handouts, testing, demonstrations and information;

· Alumni Association pancake breakfast 10 a.m.-noon Sunday on Ferry Mall;

· Five-kilometer benefit walk for Detroit Radio Information Service starting at 9 a.m. Saturday from the University Tower parking lot;

· Faculty Art exhibition in the Community Arts Gallery and Spero/Golub: Contemporaries exhibition in the new Elaine L. Jacob Gallery in Old Main;

· Book sales by the WSU Purdy/Kresge Library, Wayne State Press and Detroit Public Library (Antiquarian Book Sale);

· Preservation Wayne tours of historic homes;

· Festival of Banners with winners on display over festival walkways;

· Food Fair with a wide range of choices;

· Horse and carriage rides;

· Splendor of Ancient Egypt exhibition and 50-ton Egyptian sand sculpture at Detroit Institute of Arts; and

· Grand Arts Processions with participating visitors.

Most UCCA institutions will offer individual activities and events.

Ample parking will be available throughout the festival area. Parking for $2 will be provided in WSU Parking Structure No. 1 (north side of Palmer west of Cass), No. 5 (northwest corner of Anthony Wayne Drive and Kirby) and the Rackham Structure (Warren and Woodward) as well as selected surface lots. Please note that on Saturday and Sunday, WSU parking gate cards will work only at Structure No. 5.

For more information or for festival schedules call the University Cultural Center office at 577-5088 or Eileen Raider in the Office of Community Relations at(313) 577-2246.