Both the organizers and the participating artists agreed: The inaugural Folk to Fine Arts Festival and Expo held last weekend at the Commerce Civic Center exceeded all expectations.
“We had wonderful feedback,” said Denise McKay, executive director of the Downtown Development Authority and one of the organizers of the event. “I think it was a wonderful success. I really do.”
More importantly, the artists were pleased.
Art festival exceeds expectations
“The artists all want to come back next year,” said McKay. “We had some artists come to check out the show who left materials because they want to be part of it next year.”
McKay estimated attendance at 1,000 over the three days.
The artists were happy with the exposure and sales, said McKay, but also with the venue and the support provided by the more than 100 volunteers.
“Most shows hit one or two, but they said we hit every area an artist looks for help in,” McKay said. “They were very impressed. They were complimentary of the staff for everything.”
Not only did volunteers build and set up the walls, but they also helped the artists set up their displays, from getting their materials up the elevators to hanging pictures. The festival even provided “booth sitters” so artists could take short breaks away from their booths. On Friday night, the group provided sandwiches for the artists.
McKay said each artist filled out a survey. The organizers will go over the surveys looking for suggestions. McKay said she’d glanced through them briefly but found no major suggestions for improvements. The committee will hold a follow-up critique in the near future.
Already, she said, there is a consensus to stop at 9 p.m. instead of 10 on Friday night and stop at 5 p.m. instead of 6 on Saturday.
“The support from the citizens of the community was outstanding,” McKay declared. “We had a lot of in-kind donations. We couldn’t have done it without our sponsors.”
McKay noted that the drawing and painting classes were filled. “I think there’s a definite need for an art school in the area,” she said.
“The festival is just going to get bigger and better,” she added. “I think it’s just going to grow. We had four or five artists who left their information and took applications for next year.”
Those applications will be on the festival website (www.folk-finearts.com) within a matter of weeks, McKay said.
McKay estimated attendance at 1,000 over the three days.
The artists were happy with the exposure and sales, said McKay, but also with the venue and the support provided by the more than 100 volunteers.
“Most shows hit one or two, but they said we hit every area an artist looks for help in,” McKay said. “They were very impressed. They were complimentary of the staff for everything.”
Not only did volunteers build and set up the walls, but they also helped the artists set up their displays, from getting their materials up the elevators to hanging pictures. The festival even provided “booth sitters” so artists could take short breaks away from their booths. On Friday night, the group provided sandwiches for the artists.
McKay said each artist filled out a survey. The organizers will go over the surveys looking for suggestions. McKay said she’d glanced through them briefly but found no major suggestions for improvements. The committee will hold a follow-up critique in the near future.
Already, she said, there is a consensus to stop at 9 p.m. instead of 10 on Friday night and stop at 5 p.m. instead of 6 on Saturday.
“The support from the citizens of the community was outstanding,” McKay declared. “We had a lot of in-kind donations. We couldn’t have done it without our sponsors.”
McKay noted that the drawing and painting classes were filled. “I think there’s a definite need for an art school in the area,” she said.
“The festival is just going to get bigger and better,” she added. “I think it’s just going to grow. We had four or five artists who left their information and took applications for next year.”
Those applications will be on the festival website (www.folk-finearts.com) within a matter of weeks, McKay said.
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