Planning for Art on Nepessing St. 2016

This year will be the 3rd anniversary of the Art on Nepessing St. art walk and art fair in downtown Lapeer.
Art fairs and art walks in Lapeer have taken many forms over the years:  since I've been here, we had an art fair downtown with a beer tent; then it combined with a History Festival and moved out to an open area next to & on school grounds; a downtown art walk & auction developed thru a partnership with 4H ... then the Art & History festival went away, and the 4H connection went away ... and for the last 3 years the Lapeer DDA and Center for the Arts have brought a combined event back downtown.  I have participated in the past in various ways, both in my former role as City Planner and as an artist; this year as a retiree I'm on the planning committee and will again be a contributing artist.

Our goal this year is to GROW the event.  While both the art walk and art fair components have been well received by those in the community who have taken the time to comment, we feel we are still not reaching and engaging enough people, and definitely need to have more booths at the art fair.  My specific role the past few weeks  has been to contact artists far and wide via email, facebook, and through their website and invite them to participate.  I sent out 155 messages and so far got 7 new ones interested - yay, we'll take it!  I'm currently going back through the list and making a second contact attempt to all who didn't respond.  The gallery and DDA staff have been following up with phone calls and personal contacts, trying to snag a few more. 

Even if we only get a few new artist booths, I am still very excited about the event this year!  We have a committee that really seems to be gelling, with lots of new ideas and enthusiasm and willingness to step forward and take on chunks of the work.  We have more entertainment planned this year, as well as interactive art projects and food vendors.  I have a gut feeling this will be the best Art on Nepessing St. yet.