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I got an interesting/exciting email this afternoon from Bill Kinney (Paragon) about his Long Beach Island, NJ show.  I did the show last year for the first time and had a good show, as did many of the other artists I spoke to.  I decided to apply to it again this year, in spite of some concerns about the area being damaged in hurricane Sandy.  Instead of going on and on about it, here is a copy/paste of the email explaining:

<<The response by the artist community to the Jersey Shore Fine Art Festival this year has been understandably light. Undoubtedly, this stems from concerns about the status of the community and region in recovering from the horrendous impacts of Tropical Storm Sandy and the end of last October. Though all we have heard from our contacts is Long Beach Island has for the most part recovered and businesses are open, homes being rebuilt. We have contacted our media partners in the market to further insure thier support. Again, as a reminder to our artist base, this event has always enjoyed the largest media sponsorship of any Paragon event. Further, the Director of the Chamber of Commerce in Long Beach Island is reaching out to all their local media contacts and news media contacts out of New York. This is becoming a regional effort to bring attention and support for the event to help the artists and the community of Long Beach Island. This leads us to doing something unprecedented in the industry. This is our approach. The jury process will remain open until the show is filled. Further, If you are juried into the show, your booth space will be free. We will charge only for corner booths ($50). Both corners and double booths will be on a first-come basis determined by receipt of your application. Please see below the e-mail from the Chamber. I ask everyone one of you to go to the internet and post this free offer to alert your fellow artists. This is a community needful of our support both emotionally and financially that will come from the event and from the influx of our patron base. Bill Kinney

Dear Bill:

On behalf of the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce and the business community it represents, I would like to thank you for your support of the 2013 Jersey Shore Fine Arts Festival. Long Beach Island which in 2011, generated $1.2 billion in tourism expenditures, is ready for an extraordinary season with well over 95% of the business community reenergized. The Jersey Shore Fine Arts Festival has been promoted as part of the spring line up in print, broadcast and through national media interviews as part of our post storm recovery. Working with you by bringing the beauty and talent of artists to our shores has been a privilege for the past four years; this season the significance of strong show will help correct the perception and build confidence in our community. The psychological benefit of having out of area support, such as this festival, will help residents, businesses and visitors to move past post storm stereo types.. I once again thank you and the dedicated artists that will share in the success of our area. Thank you, Lori Lori A. Pepenella, DS, CDME Destination Marketing Director Long Beach Island Region DMO Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce>>

Sounds like a great opportunity for everyone to benefit (artists, public, promoter, ect.) from a great show...and like it says in the email, an unprecedented move by Paragon!

-Evan