Education Tip: Polk Museum of Art Reaches a New Audience with Local Artists
Published
I'm lucky to live in a city that loves local. Charleston features local artists at everything from gallery openings to pop up shops to happy hour. Apparently, we aren't the only ones. Polk Museum of Art in Lakeland, FL, is holding a one-day art fair - Art Crawl - to highlight emerging local talent. I got all the details from Matt Belcher, Education Coordinator for Polk.
How long have you been hosting the Art Crawl?
This is the first year we're doing Art Crawl. In the past we have had our Gems & Jewels Artists' Market and Holiday Soiree, but we wanted to promote art collecting and provide a venue for local, emerging and innovative artists.
How many artists typically apply? Are they all local/regional? Do you require that they be?
We're hoping to have about 60 artists as well as some local arts organizations at the event. While we aren't requiring that artists be local, we have been marketing the event to local artists, colleges and arts organizations and most of the submissions have been from our area, Central Florida. Because Art Crawl is aimed at being affordable, we're limiting the price of artwork that can be sold at the event. Logistically then, it's practical for local artists to participate.
What are the benefits to the artists?
Art Crawl is aimed at being affordable and convenient for emerging artists. Many of the art shows in our area can be expensive for artists' whose work only sells for $50-$300, and often these shows require that you have your booth set up for multiple days. For the artist who works during the day and creates in their free time it can be difficult to participate in one of these shows. We're providing a venue for these artists by having no application fee and a low fee for the space after they are accepted into the show. We also aren't requiring a tent or booth, artwork can be displayed however the artist would like.
In addition to the accessibility, Art Crawl will give artists an opportunity to meet individuals from local arts organizations and galleries, as well as fellow artists.
What are the benefits to Polk?
One of the main benefits to Polk Museum of Art is that we are connecting to our community of local artists and getting them involved with the Museum. In the past we have only seen a few of these artists attending classes and we're hoping the events during Fall for Art will encourage more interaction between the Museum and this community.
With the community as a whole, we're hoping to encourage interest in art. While Central Florida, Lakeland in particular, is invested in the arts and culture, Fall for Art is aimed at creating new collectors of original artwork. The hope is that our community will be more invested in the arts and support for the Polk Museum of Art will grow. An event such as Art Crawl will also attract a younger audience who may not be aware of the Museum. We have several colleges in Lakeland as well as a growing community of young adults who have little interaction with the Museum. In addition to local artists, Art Crawl will feature local bands in collaboration with a pair of indie record labels, a screen printing company who'll be printing t-shirts out of their VW van, and we're looking to include a couple of local food vendors as well. We're hoping the variety of attractions will bring new people to the Museum who may not have visited before.
*Art Crawl is sponsored by iNK Screen Printing, Midflorida Credit Union and Christopher Baird, with support from Big 4 Radio.
I love this idea - and wish I lived closer to Lakeland. Want to host an event like this at your organization? Let's swap notes in the Altru community.
How long have you been hosting the Art Crawl?
This is the first year we're doing Art Crawl. In the past we have had our Gems & Jewels Artists' Market and Holiday Soiree, but we wanted to promote art collecting and provide a venue for local, emerging and innovative artists.
How many artists typically apply? Are they all local/regional? Do you require that they be?
We're hoping to have about 60 artists as well as some local arts organizations at the event. While we aren't requiring that artists be local, we have been marketing the event to local artists, colleges and arts organizations and most of the submissions have been from our area, Central Florida. Because Art Crawl is aimed at being affordable, we're limiting the price of artwork that can be sold at the event. Logistically then, it's practical for local artists to participate.
What are the benefits to the artists?
Art Crawl is aimed at being affordable and convenient for emerging artists. Many of the art shows in our area can be expensive for artists' whose work only sells for $50-$300, and often these shows require that you have your booth set up for multiple days. For the artist who works during the day and creates in their free time it can be difficult to participate in one of these shows. We're providing a venue for these artists by having no application fee and a low fee for the space after they are accepted into the show. We also aren't requiring a tent or booth, artwork can be displayed however the artist would like.
In addition to the accessibility, Art Crawl will give artists an opportunity to meet individuals from local arts organizations and galleries, as well as fellow artists.
What are the benefits to Polk?
One of the main benefits to Polk Museum of Art is that we are connecting to our community of local artists and getting them involved with the Museum. In the past we have only seen a few of these artists attending classes and we're hoping the events during Fall for Art will encourage more interaction between the Museum and this community.
With the community as a whole, we're hoping to encourage interest in art. While Central Florida, Lakeland in particular, is invested in the arts and culture, Fall for Art is aimed at creating new collectors of original artwork. The hope is that our community will be more invested in the arts and support for the Polk Museum of Art will grow. An event such as Art Crawl will also attract a younger audience who may not be aware of the Museum. We have several colleges in Lakeland as well as a growing community of young adults who have little interaction with the Museum. In addition to local artists, Art Crawl will feature local bands in collaboration with a pair of indie record labels, a screen printing company who'll be printing t-shirts out of their VW van, and we're looking to include a couple of local food vendors as well. We're hoping the variety of attractions will bring new people to the Museum who may not have visited before.
*Art Crawl is sponsored by iNK Screen Printing, Midflorida Credit Union and Christopher Baird, with support from Big 4 Radio.
I love this idea - and wish I lived closer to Lakeland. Want to host an event like this at your organization? Let's swap notes in the Altru community.
News
ARCHIVED | Blackbaud Altru® Tips and Tricks
09/19/2013 11:51am EDT
Leave a Comment