It's full speed ahead with new staff and activities
Jennifer Bowman  booth artisan

Applications Online

The following Festival applications are now online, with deadlines quickly approaching.

 

"Giving Back" grants             Feb. 13

Booth Artisans                       Mar 4

Entertainment                        Mar 25

Juried Fine Art                       Apr 10

Food Vendors                        Apr 29


Applications 
Rita, Meredith, Jennifer (left to right)
Our Staff

Welcome to our new Administrative Coordinator, Jennifer Wilson.  Jennifer comes to us with a background in marketing and communications.  She has been a freelance communications consultant for the past eight years and active in the community and Anacortes School District.  Born and raised in Seattle, Jennifer is a University of Washington graduate.  After moving around the country to support her husband's naval career, they settled in Anacortes in 2002.

 

Staff reorganization has created new energy and some shifting in responsibilities as follows:

 

Meredith McIlmoyle, Director -  Festival oversight and management, production, sponsorship

Rita James, Creative Manager  - Festival fine art, working artists, creative development, marketing

Jennifer Wilson, Administrative Coordinator - Festival communications, volunteer management

Giving Back Grants
We are now accepting applications for our annual "Giving Back" grant program. The 2014 deadline for submissions is Feb 13.   In 2013 we awarded 11 grants totaling $33,500 - including the Anacortes School District Cultural Arts program, music at the Farmer's Market, dance workshops, Museum of Northwest Art education programming and more. Festival grants impact the community by advancing art, arts education and increasing participation in arts activities. 
New! Sister-Festival
We have established an exciting new sister-festival relationship with Boise Art Museum's Art in the Park in vibrant Boise, Idaho to raise awareness of our events in the region.   BAM/Art in the Park is one of the premier Northwest Festivals; of a similar size and shape. This festival has 250 juried artists, regional food, live entertainment in the Performance Arts Bandshell and hands-on art making in the Children's Art Tent.  It always take place in September,  the Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Labor Day, in beautiful Julia Davis Park in the heart of downtown, along the Boise River.   Like us, fine art is at the heart of their organization, as BAM/Art in the Park is Boise Art Museum's major annual fundraiser that support exhibitions, education programs, and the museum's operations.  We encourage our booth artisans and festival attendees to consider expanding their scope and exploring BAM/ Art in the Park. 
Farewell to Mary Leone
We would like to bid a fond farewell to Mary Leone, who has been our Administrative Coordinator for 13 years.   Most likely if you've called the office, you've spoken to Mary. She is leaving the Festival to explore her passions of music, art and travel - and perhaps just to relax and enjoy life (and summers off).  We wish her all the best and look forward to getting to know her a volunteer!
David McCrae
Art in Bloom
An Evening of Color
 
The Festival is venturing into tulip season activities including an exciting evening event on April 5 to benefit cultural art for school children.   Included will be a silent "Collector's Auction" of donated pre-owned artwork.   
Do you have artwork you would like to donate to support this cause?  (tax-deductible) 
Please call the office for information - 293-6211.  Stay tuned for more info about the event.

Top 100 honor
 
The Festival was recently named among the "Elite 100 Fine Art Fairs" in the U.S. by ArtFairSouceBook.com, a national ranking and artist resource organization. The recognition is based on the quality of fine arts and crafts offered by our booth artisans.

 

 
Did you know?
Rodin died of frostbite in 1917 when the French government refused him financial aid for a flat, yet they kept his statues warmly housed in museums.