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Public, private sectors produce
The Port Clinton Art Festival has become a
By Sandra Whitmore The Park District of Highland Park and the Port Clinton Associates have joined forces to bring to their community an outstanding fine art show. More than 12,000 people annually enjoy the juried show featuring more than 80 artists. Assessing the situation The cooperative venture began after the park district held an art show in a local park in July, 1985, only to learn that the Port Clinton Associates' first art show was scheduled during August in downtown Highland Park. In addition, the Chamber of Commerce had an arts and crafts show in the Ravinia business district in September.
After limited success with the park district show, an extensive evaluation was held in August, 1985. The district's staff noted their show, though well-advertised through traditional avenues — news releases, flyers and posters
Illinois Parks and Recreation 7 March/April 1988 Art Festival did not draw the crowds that would continue to attract artists to the show. (Producing an art show is a double edged sword; one needs to draw large crowds and crowds that purchase art in order to attract quality artists. However, one cannot attract the crowds without the reputation for having quality works of art to view and/or purchase.) Site selection The amenities of the park site were both good and bad. The park was situated at the center of Highland Park, just west of the business district with ample parking. It was a lovely setting for an outdoor show, but it lacked indoor areas with the exception of public rest-rooms. A rainy day would be disastrous for a fine art show. In reviewing the show at Port Clinton Square, it was noted that the majority of the artists were situated under overhangs in front of retail stores, with the central plaza used for exhibiting large sculptures and staging live entertainment. The shopping area and restaurants would draw the public with or without added attractions. Park district staff talked informally with the Port Clinton Associates and found they, too, experienced only limited success with their show. They were looked on as a commercial venture and lacked the staff resources needed to produce a juried show. (Port Clinton Associates is the leasing agent for Highland Park's Port Clinton Square, a TIF [tax increment financing] project in the central business district. Port Clinton Square has combined retail businesses, office spaces and restaurants around a central plaza. The City of Highland Park owns the plaza as well as the two-story underground parking garage beneath Port Clinton.) Joining forces Serious talks of combining efforts to produce one fine arts show began in fall, 1985. The park district had reservations about giving up the successful July Arts in the Parks program promoted by the Arts Committee of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA). Port Clinton had reservations about combining with a park district for fear quality artists and buyers would not take the show seriously. After several meetings it was decided the positive resources of both agencies far outweighed the negatives. Each agency wanted to retain its identity so the public was aware of the joint sponsorship. Graphics for posters, flyers, advertisements and stationery were designed. Port Clinton Art Festival was retained as the title to help identify the location more than the sponsor, as Port Clinton was a new area in Highland Park. However, using both agencies' logos was too cumbersome, so a single artist's brush became the logo. Both the park district and the Port Clinton names were included on all printed material.
Illinois Parks and Recreation 8 March/April 1998 August tradition A late August date was set for 1986 that placed this show before two well-established shows — Lake Forest and Old Orchard. It was hoped out-of-town artists would be in the area and combine all three shows on their schedules. This did prove successful, and the date has been permanently set for the weekend before Labor Day each year. This consistency encourages artists to save the date, and it is easily remembered by the public who want to return.
gives the show the best of two quality agencies. A unique addition The combined staffs (now the committee) also decided the show needed something unique to attract people. A Children's Division was the answer. This was not only an avenue for children to exhibit their works, but also to sell them. Presently, the Children's Section is set up in the same manner as the Adult Division, and their displays have to meet the show's set criteria. The children are not juried in, but they are accepted on a first come basis with a small ($15) exhibit fee. News releases and articles feature the children and give the show a dimension not seen in other local exhibits. The art instructors at local schools are supportive of this event as long as it is not competitive for the children. Each child is given a large ribbon for participating. Jurors and judges The committee combined original mailing lists, and it continues to seek names of quality artists, jurors, and judges from local art leagues, the Illinois Arts Council and art experts in the Chicago Illinois Parks and Recreation 9 March/April 1988 Art Festival area. When selecting both the judges and jurors, the committee seeks representatives from college/university art professors, gallery owners, collectors and known local artists. A budget is established to give honorariums to both jurors and judges, although in two cases the honorariums have been returned to the park district for use in its children's art programs. A mailing to artists is sent in February asking them to submit slides for the jury. A $5 fee is charged to cover time and expenses of the jury process. More than 200 applications were received in 1987. Screening process The jury meets at the atrium of Port Clinton in early May and previews several slides from each prospective exhibitor. Using a rating system, each applicant is assigned points, and the total points from all judges are recorded. The artists receiving the most points are asked to exhibit. After the artists are selected, invitations are sent with a response card and a request for a $50 exhibit fee by July 1. In this mailing, space needs are identified by the artist, but the show has, for the most part, assigned spaces alphabetically to avoid artists wanting what they consider prime space each year. Also, this method tends to mix the art media and provides for a more interesting show. Spreading the word A healthy amount of the budget is set aside for advertising. One-half page ads appear the two weeks prior to show in the weekend sections of both major Chicago newspapers and in the local newspapers. Because of the large amounts of advertising done by Port Clinton, the show is able to obtain very good rates for these ads. Ads are also purchased for the two artists' magazines as well as for The North Shore Magazine. The dates and descriptions of the show appear in the Illinois Arts Council catalogue as well as in the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs' Calendar of Events. Public service announcements, news releases, posters and flyers complete the ad campaign. Live music is contracted for the prime hours each day and provides a lovely background for the show. Honoring the best Judging consists of Best in Show, and first, second and third places. Purchase awards are given by business and professional people who promise to purchase a piece of art displayed in the show. Merchandise awards are also given by local merchants so many artists are able to be recognized. A luncheon meeting combining the judges, jurors and committee is held during the show and has proved to be a valuable evaluation tool. In addition, evaluation forms are sent to all exhibiting artists the week after the show. A 60 percent return rate has been enjoyed, and many suggestions have been incorporated to make the show better each year. Final thoughts Combining resources gives the show the best of two quality agencies. The park district is not only able to provide staff trained in programming techniques, but it also furnishes computer and printing resources for mailing labels, artists' lists, invitations, programs, and flyers.
Illinois Parks and Recreation 10 March/April 1988
Art Festival
Both adults' and children's art classes throughout the park district are made aware of the event, and several children in the district's classes have exhibited. Port Clinton provides its manager's resources, who is trained in property and detail management, plus the space, on-site storage for pegboards and artists' materials during the show, building personnel to keep the area clean and solve problems with exhibit spaces, etc.
But the most beneficial aspect of the Port Clinton Art Festival is the coming together of a public and a private agency — learning from each other, developing a new respect for each other's areas of expertise, learning the art of compromise and, thus, giving the community a quality cultural arts event each year.
Illinois Parks and Recreation "18 March/April 1988 |
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