2009 Honorable Mention: Art Harvest

Program Goal

What began 45 years ago as a small arts gathering, has evolved into a respected juried show of high-quality art in many media, attracting over 50,000 people each year. The Junior League of Clearwater-Dunedin’s Art Harvest brings together more than 200 artists from around the world. It also showcases the art of local school children and provides hands-on experiences for them. Initially operated as a community project, Art Harvest was transformed in to a fundraiser in 2004 when the League recognized the potential of the event to earn income, establish sustainable corporate relationships and sponsorships, train members in event management, and provide an enjoyable volunteer opportunity.

Program Description

Art Harvest reflects the League’s focus on arts and culture. The event is located in Dunedin’s Highlander Park, near the Fine Art Center, and is managed by a committee in coordination with the local arts community. Members learn how to plan and run a large-scale community fundraising event. The highly-organized committee structure assigns responsibilities ranging from artist coordination to logistics to the Children’s Art Tent, which is a project of the Provisional class.

In keeping with the League’s 45-year tradition of exposing the community to the arts, there is no entrance fee. Income streams include fees for vendor booths, artists’ applications and parking; revenue from retail merchandise and food; a multi-level patron program; and corporate sponsorships. Two recent changes are the introduction of a package that offers flexibility to corporate and individual sponsors, and a private Patron Party for major sponsors and donors.

Results/Outcomes

For the past four years, Art Harvest has exceeded the annual financial goals set by its committee and provided over $256,000 to the League. In 2007, the event earned over $80,000 for commitments that included grants to the Dunedin Fine Art Center and the David L. Mason Children’s Art Museum. Long-term relationships were established with Publix Super Markets, Synovus Bank, Tampa Bay Magazine and the St. Petersburg Times, companies that also support other League events.

Evaluation

The sustained profitability of the event is indicated by income that exceeds projections each year, and by the growing number of artistic offerings and activities. This has demonstrated to the League the wisdom of investing its resources into transforming the event into a fundraiser.

Impact

Art Harvest has become a major economic event in the area and has had a substantial and lasting cultural and economic impact on the community and the League. According to a national study on the economic impact on the arts, the event creates $928,400 ($32.21 per person) in direct, event-related spending in the Clearwater-Dunedin community. Spending by attendees supports 31 full-time equivalent jobs, and the event provides fundraising opportunities for other nonprofits that assist the League. For example, the Dunedin Rotary Club coordinates parking and collects parking fees and, in exchange, receives a share of the parking revenues; and the Dunedin Fine Art Center, located nearby, experiences it highest attendance and revenues on Art Harvest weekend.

Because of the mix of volunteering and fun, the Art Harvest committee is the League’s most popular placement.