Tips on organizing a juried Plein Air Event or Festival?

[rue d'oak]

I am now working with a local art center to redesign their annual Plein Air Event, a fundraiser for the Center. I am looking for ideas, tips and recommendations on what makes for a great event. The vision is to build this event into a noteworthy regional -- even national -- event.

Sponsors are clearly key, as it allows for funds to pay respected jurors, attractive cash awards, marketing and all.

But artists need certain things....
- free or low cost housing
- info about the area
- places and times to network

Those attending need things too....
- maps
- free access
- range of sales prices

What attracts collectors?

When you have participated or attended such an event, what has made it worthwhile?

Any suggestions of events to visit on the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington)?

Website suggestions?

Jennifer

[manfrommerriam]

>Well, if this is fund raising in the form of an art event you need to determine from whom you will be making money. If it is primarily the artists paying fees or delivering required saleable art thats a structural point to organize around.
>I think you need to first define the artists you want to attract. Then look at what those artists need and then what they would like and then at what attracts them. Do you plan on an open event with some unskilled participants or are you Jurying to limit the event to only those likely to generate sales? No one painting wants to spend more than they earn but it happens to most participants... so this is something they do for recreation and social contacts.
I think that most will be attracted by low costs more than by the possibility of a big prize. They will be attracted by great locations with ease of access. They will be attracted by artists only social events and the certainty they will paint with a group if they wish. They will be attracted by well-known, approachable artists painting with them. Perhaps holding workshops.
>Exhibiting art for sale can bring in money. If this sale is extended beyond the event itself the artist needs cheap and prompt return of the unsold art after the exhibit. This is a problem with gallery organized events and when they will not shipthe art it encourages artists who are local but out of town artists will not participate if their unsold art cannot be cheaply retrieved. In addition it means many artists will hang only the minimum art required because, again, the cost of shipping is a burden.
>As for purchasers of art. I think they want to see the artists at work and speak with them. They want an event that has them out in the locations.
>>There is a huge PA event called "Art on the Rocks" in Sydney Australia, (not a direct fund raiser, rather it brings people into a commercial district) with a huge amount of artists down at Circular Quay. Every artist is assigned a spot and musicians play by the artist groups as well. The city prints guides to the artists. When rain threatens the city sends a crew out that errects big umbrellas over the artists. They sell T-shirts. The artists are selling wet art. It is huge fun and runs one day. Thousands turn out to see the free show.
You might want to research that one.