West Coast Artists runs six shows including the Desert Art Festival in Frances Stevens Park in Palm Springs. It seems the city may want to move it elsewhere as a result of a meeting with the merchants from the Uptown Design District, the area most affected by traffic, parking and other concerns raised by the outdoor art fair.
We all know that a long established event in a secure location has its own cache and audience. So what happens if this show is moved?
Ronda Mills, president and founder of West Coast Artists, says that if it has to move it will probably cancel the show.
Anyone do these shows? What is the impact of moving a show from an established location?
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Seems one of the complainers was an art gallery :-) The impression I got from reading the article and comments is that the stores think those 8,000 person crowds would be all theirs if the art fairs weren't there. What they overlook is that they have increased traffic due to the show's presence.
Common sense seems to have won out, as this comment to the article points out;
It is as yet to be confirmed but it appears that common sense has prevailed. Today the powers that be, apparently decided that whats in the best interests of Palm Springs will not be dictated by a small group of self serving downtown retailers. The Desert Arts Festival is a Jewel in the Crown of Palm Springs and it now looks set to continue, power to the people.