Last week I received the following email blast from the
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair. They need financial support. When you think of how much so many artists have depended on their annual income from one or another of the Ann Arbor art fairs, they have to be grateful to this event that started it all. Not only do the artists have much to be thankful for, but the art fair patrons who have flocked by the millions to Ann Arbor for the past 50 years for this vibrant rite of summer are also indebted for the enrichment and pleasure the fair has brought them. I am asking each and every one of you to heed this call from the Street Art Fair and show your thanks and your support to keep it going. I know you will.
$50 for 50th Campaign The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original Needs Your Support!For 50 years, The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair has been connecting a carefully selected group of artists with an appreciative audience from Ann Arbor and across the country. During this half century, the Fair has won many awards, been a national leader in operational and program development, provided substantial economic benefit to the local business community, and often been recognized as the brand of Ann Arbor.
How Much Does it Cost to Put on This Free Event? While most events of this caliber are run on budgets well exceeding one million dollars, The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair has managed to grow and flourish with
an annual budget of just $350,000. As a non-profit organization, the Fair has relied on artist fees, souvenir sales and national corporate support to meet these budgetary requirements and operate as a
free public event.
Why We Need Your Support Due to a combination of factors (poor economic conditions, reduction of revenue producing space due to construction, and general corporate pull out from the state of Michigan) the income generated from these key sources is no longer expected to cover the Fair’s annual production costs. Individual contributions could help offset the expected $65,000 shortfall facing the Original Fair. Donations will go directly to supporting our world class programs, including projects like the Zero Waste Initiative, the New Art New Artists series, the Art Zone/Imagination Station’s free art activities, art demonstrations, and the Townie Street Party.
How YOU Can Help Become a supporter of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair today! We’re asking for a
“Fifty for Fifty” commitment: $50 to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. But don’t worry if that’s not in your budget this year – your gift will be appreciated no matter what the size. If each of our 500,000 visitors donated even $5, we would have enough to run the fair for over seven years! You can
donate online by visiting our website, or you can send a check to our office at: Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original P.O. Box 1352 Ann Arbor, MI48106 Thank you for considering a donation to the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair. If you have any questions, please contact us by email (
kdelhey@artfair.org) or phone: (734) 994-5260. The Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original is a 501c(3) non-profit corporation.Your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
A Few Reasons to Donate Today: **More than
$78 million is spent locally in Ann Arbor hotels, stores, and restaurants by the estimated
500,000 patrons who visit during fair week ** The
Townie Street Party, a special free kick-off event for the community to celebrate the Art Fairs, is hosted annually by the Street Art Fair on Ingalls Mall and North University
**The Kid’s Art Fair gives young artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work and the
New Artist Program allows University level artists to experience what it’s like to participate in the Street Art Fair. **The Street Art Fair’s
Zero Waste Program was initiated two years ago with a goal of minimal environmental impact. This program was one of three invited to present at the MFEA Conference this year.
Sorry to be so horribly long responding Shary. This post has been buried on the site and I only recently re-found it. How's that for a marvelous grasp of the English language & grammar!
Eloquent response. Very eloquent and informative. Thank you. It is great to see promoters write in responding to topics on this site, their own and others. Seems the best thing this site can offer: ideas, insights, perspectives, explanations, possible solutions.
I hope since the show is soon to be, you have found the sponsors and raised the money through contributions to help make ends meet this year. It was comforting to read your explanation that artists were not being asked, for it seems that is what we all picked up on - erroneously.
If I might ask a couple of questions. What do you think it is corporate sponsors, local or national, look for in sponsoring an event? And in answering that, what is it that your Ann Arbor show, or the others, do to meet what they seek? What are the strengths you perceive of the Ann Arbor show that you pitch to them? It seems one of the axioms of business is that when times are slow, you advertise more, not less. Oddly though, it seems that is not the case perhaps in practice? Do these sponsors perceive that the show has shifted away from their target market? If so, what will the show consider doing differently to change its character to better attract corporate sponsors? Is it still not a good form of advertising for the dollars invested?
Also, how does the Ann Arbor Street Fair assess the voice of the patrons, those who come from across the midwest to see and purchase art? Your jurors and jury process, like most shows, only address the kind of work that is in the show each year, the artists. How do you assess whether the artists and patrons are connecting? If patrons are walking away happy or disenchanted? Finding work they want or not? Is your jury process bringing in work people want to buy or is it a stand-alone process that may be to some extent dysfunctional for the patrons? How is that measured or evaluated?
Last, you say you do all this to benefit the artists. Which, being an artist myself, I cannot help but appreciate at many levels. Yet I would ask if that is really the right priority? Is it not the patrons? Without patrons that want to and can afford to buy art, and find what they want at each show they go to, does this not all go away. Can we have careers or any form of livelihood as artists without patrons? If your jury process juries in a lot of work that doesn't sell well to the public you attract, and your jury process then juries out artists that did connect well with the public .... what has been accomplished? Is that a process destined for success of the event? Are you sure that your patrons, and the demographics your sponsors wish to see, are not beginning to leave? Not solely because of the economy, but because the event is not staying connected to the patrons?
I would enjoy talking with you if you meant what you said Shary. Communication is a great and powerful tool that offers lots of insights and possibilities. Perhaps sometimes after your event is over, when you have a chance to breathe and sleep normally again! I do hope the Ann Arbor Street Fair goes gangbusters this year, despite all that is going on around us. I have many good artists friends in the show, and hope for your sake and theirs, it is a success.
You raise some excellent questions which I’d love to talk about further, but first, I’d like to address a misunderstanding in your post regarding who we’re asking for support. When you say that we’re calling on the artists to donate this money, it’s really just the opposite. Our original call for support was sent out to our own list of interested art patrons, visitors, volunteers, and community members. Connie graciously offered to re-post it here to reach a broader audience.
In other words, we are NOT asking the artists to shoulder the burden – in fact, the reason we are asking for donations is specifically to AVOID asking the artists to shoulder the burden (burdens like raised booth fees etc). Of course, we want artists to be kept abreast of our need and we’re more than happy to accept donations from them as well. But the biggest reason to send the word out to artists is that they’re the most recognizable and visible faces of the fair. We have a small staff who works year-round to put on this event, but a typical visitor isn’t going to run into one of us – they’re going to see one of you, sitting at a booth and talking to them about your work. So naturally, a note from one of these artists will resonate with fair patrons on a whole other level, and if the artists are aware of the need they can then pass it on to people they know who care about our Fair.
Now, to answer your questions about why we’re asking for donations “after fifty years and millions of patrons”, it’s important to reiterate two key factors: the reduction of corporate sponsorship and a 25% reduction in our site space.
As mentioned above in the original post, the Fair has relied on artist fees, souvenir sales and national corporate support to meet our $350,000 annual budgetary requirements in the past (this includes things like permits, insurance, on-site electricity, general advertising, jury costs, staffing, office overhead, and infrastructure at the site). The national economic downturn happened right in the middle of our corporate sponsor recruitment this past fall. Michigan was hit especially hard, and the national sponsors were suddenly very reluctant to advertise/sponsor events in the Midwest this year. This reduction in sponsorship accounts for $45,000 of the $65,000 shortfall.
Ann Arbor is a relatively small town as well. We don’t have many large corporations of our own to look to (and the ones that actually are based here are going through tough times of their own). Although the local businesses are very supportive, they simply don’t have the monetary funds to give as heavily as the national corporations. Times are tough for all of us, and we’re not the only organization caught in the perfect storm.
Due to construction on our site, we’re also losing around 30 booth spaces this year (and the artist fees that would have come with them, resulting in a $20,000 loss). In keeping with our mission, we’ve taken on this financial burden as an organization instead of passing it along it to our artists –in already difficult times, the strain of increasing booth fees could be potentially very harmful to them. Additionally, we’re hoping that it will give each participating artist a stronger chance at success.
Also, unlike most non-profit organizations that rely in part (often a large part) on donations to meet their annual operating costs, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original has never before conducted a broad based call for donations - not once in our fifty-year history. This is almost unheard of in the non-profit world. Honestly, our success with this model has worked to our disadvantage in our current fundraising effort.
What’s more, the Fair has always operated as a free public event. Not charging our patrons is very important to us because it allows a larger number of visitors to view and purchase artist’s work—and serving the best interest of the artists is our ultimate goal. Although I cannot speak for the other three art fairs in Ann Arbor, the challenges besetting us likely arise from the fact that our Fair (the Original Fair) is a mission-driven 501 (c)3 arts organization, whereas the other three fairs are membership-driven. Regardless, we’ve all tightened our belts significantly.
To end on a positive note, the Fair is not in danger of closing. By asking for donations now we’re hoping to proactively address the problem and ensure that the caliber of our event remains strong. We do not seek to “purchase your support”, but rather to earn it. We hope to openly and honestly answer any concerns you may have as well – just let us know if you have a question (office@artfair.org)! We are confident that we will weather this storm through ingenuity and the support of our art-loving community.
Sincerely,
Shary Brown
Executive Director
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original
July 15-18th 2009
I'd have to agree. I have donated jury fees for about 15 years and just finally got into the So. University show last year. I think I've paid my dues to the Ann Arbor community.
Thanks for the heads up on their problems. But please help me out here ...
One, why after 50 years and all those millions of patrons is the show in trouble? What has gone wrong? Is it all the shows in Ann Arbor? Just one of them? If not all, why just the one? Did they not charge artists enough for booth fees and parking? Have they not been managed properly? What, that used to work, is not longer working and what have they done to change how they operate accordingly? To ask for money is one thing, but as to why they have gotten to this point, should they not convince us of what is being done differently that will make a difference in the future? And that the $50 being sought this year from artists will be a one-time asking that will propel them into a no-problem future?
Also, why is the business community of Ann Arbor not leaping to their assistance? During those 50 years your refer, have not all the artists and those millions of patrons brought tens of millions or hundreds of millions of dollars into the business community? Have they not benefited from full motels and hotels, restaurants selling tons of food, shops and stores selling lots of product? Is this not one of the biggest money-making events for the city of Ann Arbor short, perhaps, of the football games? Where is the Ann Arbor Merchant's Association and the business community as a whole? Are they helping out? Or is it only the artist community that is being asked to pony up?
Last, not meaning to sound like sour grapes or overly personal, but I've never gotten past any of the Ann Arbor juries to be part of the event. Want to convince me why I should care? So far, the only influence it has had on my life is taking my jury fees each year. In no other way I can see has either I or the show benefitted from my association with it - their patrons have not had chance to see or purchase my artwork, I've not had a chance to contribute a booth fee or motel fees, gas, food, etc. etc. etc. to the Ann Arbor community.
Bottom line to me Connie is while I hope it does make it, the first call and level of support should be the business community of Ann Arbor that has benefited far more than the artists. If they are not stepping up .... they why should artists shoulder the burden? Next should be the artists that HAVE done the show .... maybe one could argue commensurate with how many times they have been in the shows and thus benefitted from being in the event. And if the show isn't going to tell us why this happened and what is being done to make it work better in the future, that staying mute on those issues does not purchase my support.
Comments
Sorry to be so horribly long responding Shary. This post has been buried on the site and I only recently re-found it. How's that for a marvelous grasp of the English language & grammar!
Eloquent response. Very eloquent and informative. Thank you. It is great to see promoters write in responding to topics on this site, their own and others. Seems the best thing this site can offer: ideas, insights, perspectives, explanations, possible solutions.
I hope since the show is soon to be, you have found the sponsors and raised the money through contributions to help make ends meet this year. It was comforting to read your explanation that artists were not being asked, for it seems that is what we all picked up on - erroneously.
If I might ask a couple of questions. What do you think it is corporate sponsors, local or national, look for in sponsoring an event? And in answering that, what is it that your Ann Arbor show, or the others, do to meet what they seek? What are the strengths you perceive of the Ann Arbor show that you pitch to them? It seems one of the axioms of business is that when times are slow, you advertise more, not less. Oddly though, it seems that is not the case perhaps in practice? Do these sponsors perceive that the show has shifted away from their target market? If so, what will the show consider doing differently to change its character to better attract corporate sponsors? Is it still not a good form of advertising for the dollars invested?
Also, how does the Ann Arbor Street Fair assess the voice of the patrons, those who come from across the midwest to see and purchase art? Your jurors and jury process, like most shows, only address the kind of work that is in the show each year, the artists. How do you assess whether the artists and patrons are connecting? If patrons are walking away happy or disenchanted? Finding work they want or not? Is your jury process bringing in work people want to buy or is it a stand-alone process that may be to some extent dysfunctional for the patrons? How is that measured or evaluated?
Last, you say you do all this to benefit the artists. Which, being an artist myself, I cannot help but appreciate at many levels. Yet I would ask if that is really the right priority? Is it not the patrons? Without patrons that want to and can afford to buy art, and find what they want at each show they go to, does this not all go away. Can we have careers or any form of livelihood as artists without patrons? If your jury process juries in a lot of work that doesn't sell well to the public you attract, and your jury process then juries out artists that did connect well with the public .... what has been accomplished? Is that a process destined for success of the event? Are you sure that your patrons, and the demographics your sponsors wish to see, are not beginning to leave? Not solely because of the economy, but because the event is not staying connected to the patrons?
I would enjoy talking with you if you meant what you said Shary. Communication is a great and powerful tool that offers lots of insights and possibilities. Perhaps sometimes after your event is over, when you have a chance to breathe and sleep normally again! I do hope the Ann Arbor Street Fair goes gangbusters this year, despite all that is going on around us. I have many good artists friends in the show, and hope for your sake and theirs, it is a success.
Cheers!
Ron
You raise some excellent questions which I’d love to talk about further, but first, I’d like to address a misunderstanding in your post regarding who we’re asking for support. When you say that we’re calling on the artists to donate this money, it’s really just the opposite. Our original call for support was sent out to our own list of interested art patrons, visitors, volunteers, and community members. Connie graciously offered to re-post it here to reach a broader audience.
In other words, we are NOT asking the artists to shoulder the burden – in fact, the reason we are asking for donations is specifically to AVOID asking the artists to shoulder the burden (burdens like raised booth fees etc). Of course, we want artists to be kept abreast of our need and we’re more than happy to accept donations from them as well. But the biggest reason to send the word out to artists is that they’re the most recognizable and visible faces of the fair. We have a small staff who works year-round to put on this event, but a typical visitor isn’t going to run into one of us – they’re going to see one of you, sitting at a booth and talking to them about your work. So naturally, a note from one of these artists will resonate with fair patrons on a whole other level, and if the artists are aware of the need they can then pass it on to people they know who care about our Fair.
Now, to answer your questions about why we’re asking for donations “after fifty years and millions of patrons”, it’s important to reiterate two key factors: the reduction of corporate sponsorship and a 25% reduction in our site space.
As mentioned above in the original post, the Fair has relied on artist fees, souvenir sales and national corporate support to meet our $350,000 annual budgetary requirements in the past (this includes things like permits, insurance, on-site electricity, general advertising, jury costs, staffing, office overhead, and infrastructure at the site). The national economic downturn happened right in the middle of our corporate sponsor recruitment this past fall. Michigan was hit especially hard, and the national sponsors were suddenly very reluctant to advertise/sponsor events in the Midwest this year. This reduction in sponsorship accounts for $45,000 of the $65,000 shortfall.
Ann Arbor is a relatively small town as well. We don’t have many large corporations of our own to look to (and the ones that actually are based here are going through tough times of their own). Although the local businesses are very supportive, they simply don’t have the monetary funds to give as heavily as the national corporations. Times are tough for all of us, and we’re not the only organization caught in the perfect storm.
Due to construction on our site, we’re also losing around 30 booth spaces this year (and the artist fees that would have come with them, resulting in a $20,000 loss). In keeping with our mission, we’ve taken on this financial burden as an organization instead of passing it along it to our artists –in already difficult times, the strain of increasing booth fees could be potentially very harmful to them. Additionally, we’re hoping that it will give each participating artist a stronger chance at success.
Also, unlike most non-profit organizations that rely in part (often a large part) on donations to meet their annual operating costs, the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original has never before conducted a broad based call for donations - not once in our fifty-year history. This is almost unheard of in the non-profit world. Honestly, our success with this model has worked to our disadvantage in our current fundraising effort.
What’s more, the Fair has always operated as a free public event. Not charging our patrons is very important to us because it allows a larger number of visitors to view and purchase artist’s work—and serving the best interest of the artists is our ultimate goal. Although I cannot speak for the other three art fairs in Ann Arbor, the challenges besetting us likely arise from the fact that our Fair (the Original Fair) is a mission-driven 501 (c)3 arts organization, whereas the other three fairs are membership-driven. Regardless, we’ve all tightened our belts significantly.
To end on a positive note, the Fair is not in danger of closing. By asking for donations now we’re hoping to proactively address the problem and ensure that the caliber of our event remains strong. We do not seek to “purchase your support”, but rather to earn it. We hope to openly and honestly answer any concerns you may have as well – just let us know if you have a question (office@artfair.org)! We are confident that we will weather this storm through ingenuity and the support of our art-loving community.
Sincerely,
Shary Brown
Executive Director
Ann Arbor Street Art Fair, the Original
July 15-18th 2009
Thanks for the heads up on their problems. But please help me out here ...
One, why after 50 years and all those millions of patrons is the show in trouble? What has gone wrong? Is it all the shows in Ann Arbor? Just one of them? If not all, why just the one? Did they not charge artists enough for booth fees and parking? Have they not been managed properly? What, that used to work, is not longer working and what have they done to change how they operate accordingly? To ask for money is one thing, but as to why they have gotten to this point, should they not convince us of what is being done differently that will make a difference in the future? And that the $50 being sought this year from artists will be a one-time asking that will propel them into a no-problem future?
Also, why is the business community of Ann Arbor not leaping to their assistance? During those 50 years your refer, have not all the artists and those millions of patrons brought tens of millions or hundreds of millions of dollars into the business community? Have they not benefited from full motels and hotels, restaurants selling tons of food, shops and stores selling lots of product? Is this not one of the biggest money-making events for the city of Ann Arbor short, perhaps, of the football games? Where is the Ann Arbor Merchant's Association and the business community as a whole? Are they helping out? Or is it only the artist community that is being asked to pony up?
Last, not meaning to sound like sour grapes or overly personal, but I've never gotten past any of the Ann Arbor juries to be part of the event. Want to convince me why I should care? So far, the only influence it has had on my life is taking my jury fees each year. In no other way I can see has either I or the show benefitted from my association with it - their patrons have not had chance to see or purchase my artwork, I've not had a chance to contribute a booth fee or motel fees, gas, food, etc. etc. etc. to the Ann Arbor community.
Bottom line to me Connie is while I hope it does make it, the first call and level of support should be the business community of Ann Arbor that has benefited far more than the artists. If they are not stepping up .... they why should artists shoulder the burden? Next should be the artists that HAVE done the show .... maybe one could argue commensurate with how many times they have been in the shows and thus benefitted from being in the event. And if the show isn't going to tell us why this happened and what is being done to make it work better in the future, that staying mute on those issues does not purchase my support.