07 Aug Addressing Arts in the Heart
Statement Addressing Concerns and Misinformation about the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival.
FIRST let us STATE
Our festival performers on EACH STAGE are 95% local, so it is simply untrue that local artists are not performing on our stages. Our Arts Non Profits that set up for FREE are local. Our Young Artist Market Vendors-LOCAL. Each Stage Manager-LOCAL. Our FAC Jurors are LOCAL and the Fine Arts & Fine Craft Artist are a nice balance of local and out of town artist that have supported the festival for decades. There are many more examples of how local art and artists are supported not just at the Festival but year round in our community.
The Greater Augusta Arts Council is profoundly committed to supporting local artists, and this commitment is vividly showcased through the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival. Our juried Fine Arts and Fine Crafts show, evaluated by a panel of local artist jurors, includes many local applicants, with most being accepted into the show. To assist artists in navigating the application process, we provide informational classes and videos. As most of our local artists do not make a living as Craft Show Artists, we provide information, education and assistance to get them ready for the weekend.
Our booth fees are very affordable. Fine Artists pay just $300 for the weekend, which our research shows are on the low end of the scale, with many festivals charging over $500 for the privilege of setting up a booth. Additionally, our local arts non-profits members can set up a booth for free if they have a tent. If not, we allow them to secure a tent through our festival’s tent provider Beach View (formerly Ranco). The festival nor the Arts Council own tents that we rent. Our 20 global food booths pay $1000 for a full booth setup that includes a tent, tables, chairs, napkins, and tar paper for the floor. Smaller booths are less. All of these food booths are organized by local cultural groups.
Approximately 95% of our performance acts (both on stage and street performers) are local, demonstrating our dedication to promoting local talent. This year, thanks to a grant from Destination Augusta, we are excited to feature headliners alongside local acts, enhancing the festival experience while maintaining a strong focus on local talent.
In addition, we offer free booth space to local arts non-profit members (memberships are $75 annually for these groups), allowing them to share information, sell tickets, conduct raffles, and build mailing lists.
Our Family Area is comprised of local businesses, organizations and non-profits who provide for free cultural arts and crafts activities to engage and educate our youth about arts from around the world.
Our Young Artist Market provides an affordable platform for high school-age or younger artists to sell their non-consumable creations. This area of the festival also features street performances to further engage children and their families through the arts.
The festival also features initiatives like the Literary Lounge, Artzilla, and live painting at the Jazz Stage, all highlighting the incredible talent within our local community.
Admission: While yes, there is an admission cost, we donate thousands of wristbands for entry each year to local individuals, groups, schools, organizations, etc. to make the arts accessible to them.
Through these efforts and initiatives, the Greater Augusta Arts Council ensures that local artists are prominently featured and supported throughout the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival, fostering a vibrant and inclusive artistic community.
Addressing the Petition:
Considering the recent petition expressing the desire for an excluded group to be included in this year’s festival lineup, we would like to provide some clarity. We have decided not to publicly speak about the details of last year’s festival surrounding the disregard for rules and regulations of the festival. We will state that like any festival; Arts in the Heart of Augusta has rules and regulations that must be followed in order that everyone have a pleasant and cohesive experience. In addition, when our footprint returned to Broad Street, (from Telfair) we ended up with less space than anticipated and have had to reduce the number of groups allotted. However, the festival is designed to ensure that a variety of groups get opportunities to perform throughout the years. Our festival performers are 95% local, so it is simply untrue that local artists are not supported.
Furthermore, we have requested more than one meeting with the group in question to reach a resolution and understanding, but they have declined to meet. Unfortunately, we cannot work with anyone unwilling to compromise. One community working together is what will elevate us all.
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all artists and performers. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain the high standards that make the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival a cherished community event.
The Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival is a premier event showcasing the rich cultural tapestry of our community through a juried Fine Arts and Fine Crafts show. This festival is a testament to our commitment to celebrating and supporting local artists and performers while also adhering to the highest standards of excellence and organization.
Additional Points of Clarity to Reiterate
Operational Costs and Vendor Fees: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the Greater Augusta Arts Council relies on sponsor and vendor fees to help cover the substantial costs associated with operating a festival of this size. These costs include everything from fencing and tents to operations and rentals. Much of the revenue generated each year goes directly into covering the expenses of the current festival and Council programs and services for the year.
Juried Fine Arts and Fine Crafts Show: The Fine Arts and Fine Crafts show is a juried event, evaluated by a panel of local artists. Many of the festival applicants are local artists, and most of these applicants are accepted into the show, provided they accept and confirm their participation. To assist potential participants, we offer informational classes and videos explaining the application process and rules. The participation fee for this area is $300, significantly lower than the national average of $700-$1000 for festivals of this size.
Performance Stages: Our performance stages proudly feature about 95% local acts. This year, thanks to a grant from Destination Augusta, we are thrilled to include headliners such as Fast Ball, brought in by local artist Joe Stevenson, and Georgia Muldrow, presented by local artist Karen Gordon. These headliners complement the extensive lineup of local talent.
Support for Local Arts Organizations: Our Arts Non-Profit Booths are exclusively for local arts organizations, allowing them to set up for free to share information, sell tickets, conduct raffles, and build mailing lists. The only requirement is that they do not compete with our vending artists.
Family Area and Young Artist Market: Performers in the Family Area can set up for free and offer craft activities for youth at no charge, though selling is not permitted. The Young Artist Market allows high school-age or younger artists to sell their non-consumable works for a nominal fee of $15 (for a festival badge).
Awards and Recognition: The Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival has received numerous awards over the years, reflecting our dedication to excellence. However, maintaining the high standards of such a large event necessitates adherence to specific rules and guidelines.
Sponsorship and Cultural Participation: Our lowest sponsorship rate is $1200. The Global Food Village, where cultural organizations (not restaurants) sell food, requires a minimum participation fee of $1500. This ensures the inclusion of diverse cultural representations in our festival.
Additional Local Artist Engagement: The festival further supports local artists through various initiatives:
The Literary Lounge in the Miller Theatre.
Artzilla, where artists paint live on the Augusta Common.
Live painting at the Jazz Stage by local artists.
Encouragement to Apply: We encourage all artists who wish to participate in the festival to apply. However, as a juried show, the decisions on participation are made by the jury panel, not the Arts Council staff. Any rule violations during the festival will be reviewed, and artists who break rules may not be allowed to return.
The Arts Council recognizes all forms of art, and this festival focuses on Fine Arts and Fine Crafts. Nevertheless, music, theatre, dance, martial arts, literary and film are welcome on our performance stages, provided they apply and are accepted.
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all artists and performers. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain the high standards that make the Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival a cherished community event.
In all things seek understanding.