In many communities where art festivals take over the city streets in business districts there is a good deal of push back from the merchants who don't like the events saying the events disrupt their business, e.g., those who close their business or leave town in Ann Arbor during art fair week, the City Council in Birmingham pushing one of the Birmingham events back to the park, etc. Here's the latest in Oklahoma City, but this time about a "for profit" group. Can established downtown Oklahoma City...
Do you think that makes a difference whether it is an arts oriented group or a profit making group?
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This is all so interesting. Not an angle I've thought of before. I guess it's nice when it can be at a park or open area, but there ought to be a friendly way to integrate the needs of both. I guess if I were a storefront, I wouldn't want to seem hostile to the needs of the artists, seeing as involvement in community events is something business owners often strive for. Blocking entrances to buildings, though, just seems plain rude, and for a several-days show, I can see why they would really not want it.
I'm VP on a non profit board who just put on our 39th year art festival called the North COUNTRY FAIR. I'm also a potter in the show past 39 years. I think a non profit has a better read on what's best for the community than a for profit. I have learned both side of a show from this position and know have a more rounded sense of what it takes to put on a show. As far a s some merchants not going along you will always have a few that do not want any show for any reason and thats just a norm-so some toes will get stubbed no matter.
Mark
Both groups (non-profit and for profit) need to take in the needs of the local merchants. You've got our finger on that, Mark, some won't like it no matter what you do for them. We were at Coconut Grove one year and the booths were set up with their backs to the curb so you couldn't see the businesses behind us. Assuming all the businesses just knew this was part of the drill, but a new merchant was infuriated. We set up, lots of weights, screwed into the concrete and came back the next morning to find our booth had been moved about 4 feet during the night to make an opening to that business. The show director, Marla Bercuson, was furious! We were stunned. Not only had they had to move ours they moved the one on the other side.
Mediating between the merchants and the event is a tricky thing. I guess that is one of the reasons to put booths down the middle of the street. No one's frontage is blocked.
I know that one of our communities here- actually two cities, each on one side of a river, hold their individual events, Artwalk on one, Sidewalk Arts Show on the other, on one weekend, and in conjunction with another event- a four day festival which begins mid-week. All events take place in downtown parks, in the shopping and restaurant districts. And the local establishments do run promotions, sales, discounts, etc. The coffee shops offer coupons, eateries offer special meal deals, clothing shops run sales, etc. It works. These businesses work WITH the promoters, Artists, vendors, etc.
Thats sounds great if you are a retail store. I own a law practice in the office building on the corner of where the OKC Arts Festival starts and the week of Arts festival is my worst week. This area is a business district and not retail. The OKC festival is well known for its food court featuring local high end restaurants teamed with local charities as well as its art. Thus, no one is eating at the restaurant across the street. The small business owner that owns it suffers as well. No one is able to get to my business as they can not park within 5 blocks without having to pay as all of the street parking is closed off for the festival. When I talk to prospective clients during the week of the festival (it runs Tues -Sun but the streets and parking is shut down for approx 3 weeks for set up and tear down), I have had more than one decline to come to my office or no show because of the parking issue.
That being said, I love the arts festival because of the food, art, and culture. We go every day. The arts festival is well liked in OKC. (the street closing being debated by our city council was not for this show but was for a new show in another district in OKC (I did that show and it was horrible)). I am also a fairly new artist and have done several shows now but had to take exception with the comment that any business that can't make money is missing the opportunity. The OKC Arts Festival is a great attraction but it is a (although welcomed) distraction/nuisance for local businesses.
Great to see the other side of this story, John. I KNEW there had to be one.
Here is the outcome of the vote in Oklahoma City -- the winners were the people who want to close the street. How about that? Commerce prevails over the fearful.
http://newsok.com/council-approves-plans-for-art-festival/article/3...
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