How is that for an upbeat headline? We are just not going to let the economy get us down.
Last week I was interviewed by Chris Coates of the Suburban Journals that cover the St. Louis vicinity about my feelings about economic conditions and their effect on the summer fairs.
It is a pretty comprehensive story that includes new details on the recent Belleville, IL, Fair on the Square, plus prognostications for the future.
Who would have thought I would become an expert after all the years spent putting up the art fair booth in sweltering, torrential or freezing weather, dogs peeing on the tent, sweeping the streets to keep the booth clean and the rest of the unglamorous tasks associated with the art fair business?
The people Chris talked to discussed not only the economy but what they are doing to combat it for their fairs.
Ask Roy-el Catering co-owner Sherry Nungesser what's to blame for stagnant sales during the annual Art on the Square festival last weekend in Belleville, and the response is quick.
And, for once, the recession is off the hook....
The subtle difference is an important indicator to the legions of mostly volunteers who plan, budget and execute dozens of local community and church fairs across the region every spring and summer. Many take months of coordinating and huge sums to pull off, all with the goal of boosting community spirit, raising money or both.
Such conditions would seem to put community fairs in the crosshairs of the current recession, which has cut revenues for numerous groups, especially for nonprofits.
But many planners are adamant that won't be the case. The reason: More people are avoiding vacations and staying home, making them a prime customer for summertime festivals oozing with community spirit.
Read the rest of the article here, keep your chins up and hope for the best: Summer fair planners hope locals stay localRead more…
Our setup in Decatur was a bit awkward because no one was allowed into the park before 6:30, even with a dolly. Angie Macon said that next year they will be looking into allowing artists to set up in the early morning hours by appointment as an option to the later setup time. We had dropped off our stuff the evening before right next to our spot. When we tried to put the tent together at 6:15 a muscular, tattooed cop with a buzz cut asked us to wait another fifteen minutes. We had to admit, though, that she was really nice about it. There were loud complaints from artists at first (no, really.. artists were actually heard to COMPLAIN) but it all worked out. I got the impression from the organizers that they will make a major effort for smoother setups next year. Rain had been predicted for both days, but we only got about an hour's worth on Saturday and a shower on Sunday. Unfortunately, the Sunday shower came right at teardown. When it was apparent that storms were imminent, the staff and police threw away the script and started routing traffic like a well oiled machine. Our sales were off by about thirty percent. The crowds weren't bad, but most of our sales were little stuff. I am too embarrassed to reveal our average sale. We would do the show again next year. If we cut out all the shows that disappointed us so far this year we would be out of a job. Job?
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Always great to hear about art fairs making money. Here is a press release from Bayou City Art Festival in Houston, TX:
What: Art Colony Assn. (organizers of the Bayou City Art Festivals) to make check presentations totaling $60,000 to 16 Bayou City Art Festival Memorial Park Nonprofit Partners and present Top Ten Volunteers Awards
Where: Capital One Bank Plaza – 5718 Westheimer @ Bering Drive (1st Floor, Main Lobby)
When: Wed., May 27, 6:30 p.m. CHECK PRESENTATION
Who: Art Colony Association Board of Directors, Local Nonprofit Partners, Capital One Bank City President Annella Metoyer and Houston City Council Member Peter Brown and
Nonprofit Partners: Over the past 38 years, Bayou City Art Festival has raised close to $2.5 million for local nonprofit organizations and the City of Houston. The 2009 Nonprofit Partners to receive checks are: Art League Houston, Bering Omega Community Services, City ArtWorks; Diverseworks, Downtown YMCA, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston Center for Photography, Lawndale Art Center, Memorial Park Conservancy, Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA), Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Several Dancers Core, SPARK School Park Program, Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP), Orange Show Center for Visionary Arts, and Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (TALA).
Festival Producer: Art Colony Assn. Inc., a 501c(3) org., Kim Stoilis, Exec. Dir.
The Festival is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance
The City of Houston, Budweiser Select, Capital One Bank, Legacy at Memorial, Houston Parks & Recreation Department and KTRK-TV are the Festival sponsors. The Festival is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.
Congratulations to Kim Stollis, Kelly Kindred, and the staff at the Art Colony. We're counting on Texas to stay strong and lead the rest of the state and then the nation to strong support of the arts.
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Weary of huge, impersonal summer art fairs? Come claim a grassy plot in downtown Farmington, MI, at Art on the Grand - southeast Michigan's artist-friendly alternative. July 17th, 18th & 19th Farmington Hills, MI Fri & Sat: 10am-9pm, Sun: 11am-5pm Application deadline: June 1 Art on the Grand is the fine arts section of the 44-year-old Farmington Founders Festival, located right on Grand River Avenue in the heart of Farmington. The Festival is the community's premier event with the weekend's many, varied events including nearby concerts and performances, children's activities, and food vendors. This art fair really is for you - past participants at Art on the Grand tell us how much they appreciate the special attention they receive, and feel they are not lost in the crowd. The committee does everything they can to treat you right: * Provide assistance the day of set-up and the evening of take-down * Put our reliable staff at your disposal, to relieve you for breaks * Offer donuts, bagels, and coffee in the morning, and cold bottled water or lemonade for the sultry afternoons The committee says, "the artists have told us how much they enjoy this fair, as opposed to a massive, impersonal fair setting, where they get lost in the crowd of exhibitors. They love the special attention they receive both from us and the crowd that attends, calling this a "gem of an art fair". Art on the Grand is a juried show, accepting applications in any artistic medium, provided it is
* fine * original * handmade (original prints may be sold) Art Fair Calendar.com At stake is a $500 "Best of Show" prize, as well as two honorary Mayor's Choice awards from the mayors of Farmington Hills and Farmington, plus, of course, whatever sales you make (all commission-free)! Cost for a 10 X 10 booth for all three days is only $250. This art fair is for you: with one of the nation's highest SEVs, Farmington and Farmington Hills vigorously support the arts, and welcome you to our community. Download the application at:
www.ci.farmingtonhills/artonthegrand For further information, contact Farmington Hills Cultural Arts, 28600 W. 11 Mile Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48336 Phone: 248 473 1870 Fax: 248 473 1871 E-mail:
ncoumoundouros@fhgov.comRead more…
I always loved doing one day art fairs - you get there, you set up, the people come, they buy and then you are on the way home! No dithering or waiting for people to make decisions. They know you won't be there long. The art fair is their destination for the day and they have made plans to buy. What's not to like? Here are my two favorites:
1. 'Round the Fountain Art Fair, Lafayette, IN-- always held on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. This is undoubtedly the best quality art fair in Indiana. Lafayette is a university town, home of Purdue University. The event is held around its beautifully restored courthouse. In fact it was started to raise funds for the restoration of the courthouse some time ago! Small, 80 artists, with an audience who is loyal and who buy every year. It has the advantage of a well-loved tradition in a more or less rural area that is full of people who love it. Here is a good story, including video, from the local television station:
Sunny skies make a perfect day. Here is another story from the Lafayette paper:
Art patrons score at fountain art fair. Wood artist LeRoy Bayerl of Marshfield, Wis., won best of show. My old friend jeweler Jack Forney earned second place honors and Randall Harden of Noblesville came in third.
2.
Charlevoix Waterfront Art Fair, Charlevoix, MI -- always on the second Saturday of August I loved this one because it was a chance to get "up north" on a beautiful summer day, eat fresh whitefish, see the playground of the well-to-do, hang out a little on Lake Michigan, and do some very decent sales. In fact, we had our best one day sales ever at this event. The fair is set up on the waterfront of a beautiful harbor. There are some fabulous boats docked there. The owners would host parties on their boats and then come into the park to shop and take their goods back to the boat. The art fair weekend is the biggest one all summer in Charlevoix. The committee is all volunteer and terrific. In the morning expect homemade muffins, coffee and http://www.charlevoixwaterfrontartfair.org/seeing your friends, gathered here for the festivities. Plus, if the committee likes your work there is a good chance you will be reinvited for years to come. The weather is invariably fabulous and was a reminder of why we live in Michigan. Do you have any favorite one day art fairs? Tell us about them.
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Sunday July 19th Kenosha, Wisconsin Kenosha Friends of the Public Museums Art Fair 10 AM - 5 PM 200 Exhibitors Late Deadline: June 10 (late fee $25) Does the city of Kenosha, WI, have a place in your art fair future? Located
between Chicago and Milwaukee on Lake Michigan, Kenosha lures city people to this verdant community on this summer weekend. One day art fairs are great. Visitors await them all year and know that the buying is "now or never." Art fairs associated with a cultural institution bring the audience you are looking for. This is a beautiful park setting with up to 10,000 people in attendance. It is one of the most popular art fairs in the area with cash prizes of $1250.00. The art fair is the Friends of the Kenosha Public Museums largest fundraiser of the year. Artists return year after year due to its popular appeal. What's not to like? * one day - you will be in and out * beautiful time of year for weather * spacious booth spaces: 10 x 16 * great booth fee: $100 There is also fun for the whole family with a children's activity area and great local food. For more information about the Public Museum and the art fair and to download an application visit:
www.kenosha.org/museumRead more…
My 1st year at this show and I was very impressed. I pull a trailer so I am usually early. Booth #'s were in chalk and rain washed them away. Staff was right on it and had remarked in record time. The wind was horrible Sat.. 2 glass artists lost most of their inventory, felt awful for them. Could hear things breaking throughout the day. My trimline anchored by my stones and display fixtures was a blessing, I wasn't going anywhere! Sat. sales were constant with small items being the majority of sales. Didn't make it to the artist reception, cold and beat up by the wind. Sunday was beautiful! Had many high end sales. Did around 4K for weekend..Thanks Michigan! Crowds were constant and very heavy at times, lots waited to come out Sun due to weather. E Lansing organization was awesome. Easy load in/out, volunteers everywhere. Jeweler found that Sat night someone threw up in back of his tent, he called head of show,within 20 minutes they had it cleaned up for him. Artists for the most part were happy with sales. Hope I am fortunate to be invited back next year. Kalamazoo is next for me,will let you know how it goes.Kevin
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A web photo. We must live in a wild life sanctuary. The night before last night...coyotes. We live in a suburban townhouse! Coyotes skulking across the lawn?
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Let people know your work is made in the USA!Do you get people asking if you are a local artist or if your work is Made in the USA? If you are a local artist and the materials you use are from the good 'ol US of A, you need to let people know it.In today's market there is a HUGE demand for locally made products - honey, produce, gifts with local flair such as souvenirs, recycled nostalgic crafts, culture influenced art and crafts.... The tourism industry - which is profitable in any market - is one many artist/crafts people are targeting and getting their name out there regarding their homegrown work. Pottery made locally with hometown names on them, Christmas ornaments, rag rugs, purses, recycled jewelry (like earrings made from local sea glass) - they are all in high demand. Why? Because consumers are more likely now than before to want to support people who do create items Made in the USA. With many toys made in China being recalled, USA jobs going over seas, are all pushes to drive more Americans to buy local in order to support the American economy. Inform anyone willing to listen that you are a local artist and supporting local artists (with items made in the USA) also helps build and is an investment in local economies.How can you show that your work is made locally or made in the USA? The easiest thing to do is have an 8x11 sign (bigger might be better) in your booth stating "My art is PROUDLY made in the USA" or "Locally Made Products Sold Here". Sometimes the sign alone will draw people in to see get a better look at what you make. Another idea is to make (or use) labels and use them as apart of your pricing stickers/hang tags. Try displaying a few small American flags with a tag stating Made in the USA. Put Made in the USA on all your promo material - websites (every page), business cards (on the back if you don't have room on the front), and on brochures or fliers that you give out to people for your up and coming shows.Of course this can help with Memorial Day events and the weekend shows leading up to Independance Day, this is something that should be done year around to remind the public that it is important to buy items made in the USA.Michelle Sholundwww.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.comCome visit my website, www.bythebaybotanicals.com
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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.
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October 17 & 18 Bethesda, Maryland Bethesda Row: Woodmont Ave., Bethesda Ave. & Elm St. 180 Artists Deadline: May 30Where is Bethesda, MD? This preeminent urban festival attracts art lovers from the metropolitan Washington, DC, region, displaying the works of a select group of highly creative and talented artists in the heart of Bethesda's Arts & Entertainment District. Bethesda Row is a popular dining and gathering place, covering four city blocks and features more than 50 fine shops and restaurants, and a movie theater. Low-rise, retail and office buildings create a very pleasing, human-scale, town-center feel. What makes the event unique is its continuing tradition of free attendance while financially helping kids through NIH Children's Charities in partnership with the Bethesda Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce.
A bit about the patrons: * This year's show is expected to attract more than Art Fair Calendar.com45,000 visitors * They come from one of the nation's most affluent regions, with 40% of households earning $100,000 and over * The area is ranked 6th in the nation for the number of households attending arts/cultural events with 38% of households attending arts events and purchasing fine arts There are two ways to apply to the Bethesda Row Arts Festival: download an application at:
www.bethesdarowarts.org/application or submit digitally at:
bethesdarowarts.org/app For more information about the festival visit the website at
www.bethesdarowarts.org, or e-mail
info@bethesdarowarts.org, or call 301.637.5715 Have you attended any art fairs in the East? If not, this is a very hospitable event where you can find an audience if you have distinctive and sophisticated art. The date should be attractive to artists from the Midwest whose art fair season has ended. *********** Looking for more art fairs to fill up your schedule for 2009? Visit
ArtFairCalendar.com/callfor entriesRead more…
May 19 The photo is from the web. Last night, walking the dogs... we met a skunk, tail up. It chased us, we crossed the street, so did the skunk. Crossed again, heading home...quickly. We escaped. It must have babies or Rabies! A freaky moment.
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For a long time I lived in the Detroit area and as an artist's partner we were always looking at the land just across the water in Canada. Lots of people live on the other side of the Detroit River. But the complications of taking work for sale across the border were myriad. The customs people on either side could foil any attempt to enter into Canada or even to get back into the U.S. with a van full of art. But lo and behold a government official, Eve Lerman, who works for the US Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration in a special agency called the "US Commercial Service" is working to change the rules. In her words:
Our job is to promote exports of US goods and services to overseas markets - this includes Canada and countries around the world. For the last 9 years I worked out of my office in the Pontiac, Michigan US Export Assistance Center to promote exports of automotive and manufacturing products. I spent 3 years as the Team Leader of the Automotive Team in our agency. In 2009 I felt the time was ripe to do our part to help diversify Michigan's economy. I took note, as well, of an initiative out of our headquarters in Washington DC, to focus some of our efforts on assisting business people who have never exported before. I decided to devote a portion of my time to working with artists and craftspeople in Michigan. The ArtServe organization in Michigan has generously allowed me, and some of my colleagues, to speak for a few minutes about this project at a series of outreach events they held around the state. I also made a separate trip to Marquette and Calumet in the Upper Peninsula to speak to artists about this effort. Several months ago when I started researching art fairs in Canada, I came across the "Art In The Park Windsor" website - www.artintheparkwindsor.com. The venue is beautiful (15-acre garden surrounding a historic manor), it is a 2-day juried show, and it is easier for Michigan artists to access than shows in Toronto and more distant parts of Canada. When I contacted the show organizer, the Rotary Club of Windsor, I was delighted to learn that this year, for the 1st time in 31 years, they had decided to open the show to artists from the US. We've been working on a collaborative basis to get the word out to Michigan artists. We've also been working with US & Canadian Customs officials, to simplify the procedure for crossing the border as much as possible. I am currently drafting instructions to share with artists interested in the show for this year or 2010. If you have additional questions I will be happy to try and answer them! Best regards, Eve Lerman, International Trade Specialist, US Department of Commerce, US Export Assistance Center, Pontiac, Michigan… Visit this link to see what she has set up:
www.artfairinsiders.com/events/invitation Join us Sunday, June 7 from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM to assess the venue, learn about taking art across the border, and decide whether exhibiting could help grow your sales in 2010. Well, I'm impressed. Thank you so much to the Department of Commerce for opening some trade doors to artists! Any of you who live in the region around the eastern Great Lakes and tries to travel through to Canada to Michigan will also welcome this.
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Friday and Saturday, August 15 & 16 Canal Fulton, Ohio 11 am to 8 pm St. Helena Heritage Park 50 Artists Booth spaces are available on a first-come first-serve basis. Where is Canal Fulton, OH? Conveniently located near Akron, Canton, Cleveland and Columbus,
check it out here. This is the third year of this event. The organizer, Dennis Downing, is a trustee of the heritage society, sponsor of the festival. Visitors to the event can enjoy a weekend festival of art and history, celebrating Canal Fulton's historical "canal era" and historical timeline of transportation from covered wagons, canal boats, and trains. Canal Fulton is one of the last remaining working canal cities in Ohio with an enriched historical district of over eighty nationally registered buildings and one of four remaining horse-drawn canal boats. This unique festival brings Art & History together. You will find artists, wine tasting, a civil war camp and reenactments, historical displays and lectures, museum tours, live entertainment and more. Who should apply to this event?
-artists with traditional work -artists whose work connects with the historical theme -artists with work that appeals to families -artists who enjoy the ambiance of a themed event
Please note that the event is held on a Friday and Saturday. The Ohio "Blue Laws" prohibit the sale of alcohol on Sundays and part of the fun of the festival is the presence of three local wineries. In the fall, nearby is the ever popular Yankee Peddler show with a similar historical theme, so there definitely is an eager audience. Do you live in the region? Have an open weekend? Then you may want to spend it in this lovely community. Expect low booth fees and a good return on your dollar. Eager to learn more about Canal Fulton? Visit:
www.DiscoverCanalFulton.com To request an application:
www.discovercanalfulton.comRead more…
About the show - it's set up on the streets around a downtown square and a side street. Lots of activity going on with music and kids stuff in the square. Attendance is usually pretty good. Set up is Sat AM with even numbered spaces arriving at 6:30 and odd numbered spaces at 7:30, and this works out pretty well. Parking is nearby, within a couple of blocks of your spot. Quality of the art is pretty good, and the committee treats you well with breakfast (bagels, fruit, coffee) both mornings, and they also feed you lunch with cold cuts you can make sandwiches from. They also provide sodas, and water throughout the day at the artists hospitality area.There are a handful of awards, and they had 3 judges. One was dressed up as a priest - don't ask, because I have no idea why. I heard he was a 'character'. I was not 'blessed' with any prizes.So how was the show??? Well, this was my 3rd year of doing the show, and the prior 2 were decent, though nothing to write home about. For this year - what do you get when you mix a bad economy with lousy weather? You get the picture. Saturday we had about 4 downpours followed by bright sun. Sunday we had drizzle in the morning followed by steadily increasing rain as the temperature started to drop. By 12:30 there were rivers running along the edge of the street and if you were unfortunate enough to be at the end of the street on the downhill slope you had at least 2 inches in the rear of your booth. By 1:00, those of us who inquired were told we could tear down, as long as we dollied out because vehicles would not be allowed into the show area until official end time (which would have been 5:00). By 3:00, I was on the road.My sales total covered my booth and gas, not lodging. Others I talked to at breakfast Sunday AM said they were down considerably from the prior year. I can't imagine anyone sold anything on Sunday, since essentially, nobody showed up, except for Mother Nature. Oh, well...Can't comment on any good tequila places, Nel. :)
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You really know it is Spring in the Midwest when you hear about storms closing the art fairs. Here is hoping that this season's events will not suffer from the terrible winds that closed many art fairs and caused thousands of dollars of damage at last year's fair particularly in Omaha and Evanston.
From the Belleville News Democrat: Reports of funnel clouds brought an early close to the Fair on the Square in Belleville, IL, Friday night. Read the rest of the report:
Art on the Square in Belleville wrapped up early Friday night, closing at 8 p.m. rather than 9 p.m. as storms began moving through the area....
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May 16 & 17
Reston Town Center
10 am to 6 pm daily
Presented by the Greater Reston Arts Center
220 artists
Preview Party:
May 15, 6:30-9:30, Midtown-11990 Market Street
"The art and craft work exhibited will delight you in its variety, quality and vision. In these days of strip malls and cookie cutter chain stores, art fairs are undeniably the most interesting shopping venues left in the country." -- Art Fair Source Book, 2008
This top-rated annual juried outdoor street festival held in the heart of the elegant and bustling Reston Town Center attracts over 50,000 patrons and provides an interactive experience to view, purchase, and experience art directly from the unique and talented artists who have created it.
The 2009 festival will also feature outstanding music and entertainment, activities for families, and delicious food. Now in its 18th year, the festival is well known for the high quality and wide variety of spectacular artwork. You can easily spend a whole day chatting with artists, selecting wonderful treasures, creating art with your children, watch-
ing musical and acrobatic entertainment at the performance stages before your next foray into the wonderful world of fine arts and crafts.
Don't miss this opportunity to meet our featured artist Ginny Herzog and view her architectural art.
For more info: www.restonarts.org/Festival
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