So, I’m sure that’s not what the Choochokam Arts Foundation told the artists, they had varied explanations but it just comes down to the fact that this organization that has long lacked for planning skills, failed once again and this time the failure was big enough to cause a cancellation of an event that’s been running for 39 years, cancelling it when it was too late for artists to apply and make other plans for the weekend, in the midst of the relatively short art show season for the Pacific NW.
In April they let the artists know they were changing dates and location and now it's cancelled. Announcing the date change in April meant many artists then declined the show, several are still waiting for their booth fees to be returned as they already had other shows they were committed to for the weekend. This show is now forever off our list, even if they get their act together for 2017, which is too bad, we love Whidbey Island and had thought this would be a once every three years show we'd like to continue, but not a show we wanted to do every year.
Article from the local paper:
http://www.southwhidbeyrecord.com/news/385268301.html
We last participated in 2014 and were taking a “wait and see” attitude to determine if we would participate again. I wrote a blog post at that time about the demise of a show, from the artist’s perspective. http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/demise-of-a-favorite-show
It's sad to see a show that had been a solid show, once I would classify as a very good filler show that was pleasant to participate in die.
Comments
Sorry to hear about the show Ruth. Not everybody can run off a show well. Sometimes it is just changing a bit with the times and they don't know how to do that either.
I hope you can find a good replacement show to plug into your 2017 schedule.
Nice to hear from you again. I often wonder how you are dong.
I used to do a long running show in Easton, MD till it was turned over to a new organizer. They ran it into the ground in 2 years. It was one of my best shows. So sad
Sorry to hear about this Ruth! You have mentioned how carefully you plan out your show schedule, so I'm sure that it gave your schedule a kick. Hope that the rest of the summer is much better, and no more surprises!
Dies this leave a hole in your schedule, Ruth?