BRADENTON -- This Saturday will be the final Mainly Art showing in downtown Bradenton until next October. Next season, expect to see even more artists, as the group is growing and expanding to accommodate the community’s interest.
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A Mainly Art vendor, Meg Albers, hangs her handmade kites outside her booth in downtown Bradenton. |
The events coordinator for Realize Bradenton and Mainly Art, Anna Pohl, said the artists will be back next season and a few more will be added to the mix.
”We have a ton of interest for next year,“ Pohl said. ”If artists are interested in joining Mainly Art, they can apply over the summer for next season.“
Pohl will be accepting applications and the final decision for the Mainly Art exhibitors will be made in September 2010.
There were about 35 vendors for the debut season of Mainly Art, while local people perused handmade arts and crafts, antiques and vendors specializing in environmentally friendly and imaginative goods.
It was a success for the community and for the artists, Pohl added.
But it’s not over until it’s over, as Mainly Art will show one last time on Saturday, April 17, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. So, head out this weekend and shop one last time at the Downtown Farmers’ Market for fresh organic produce, food, plants, flowers, arts, crafts, jewelry and antiques.
”Next year we’ll be doing a lot of what we did this year with showing and educating,“ she said. ”But we are going to try to add in more local talent playing music because that’s what the community has requested.“
When Mainly Art surveyed people coming to the market, Pohl said that people really wanted more music and to maintain a variety of vendors.
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| Angelique Muller's hand-painted signs show off local talent at Mainly Art in downtown Bradenton. |
”We like the size that we are,“ Pohl said. ”It’s a really good size that offers a little something for everyone.“
What’s more, when the group starts off next season they will
join in on the community’s involvement with Ringling’s International Arts
Festival – sARTeĊ½ – for their opening on October 16.
“This will be such a great date for things to start and will help validate the
festival for Manatee
County,“ she said.
But at the end of the season, Pohl sincerely believes that a lot of the artists
became really great friends. They also learned how to survive and thrive in a
challenging economy, and used their creativity to embrace the opportunity to
show in the community.
”It's promoted heavily and Mainly Art vendors only pay $25
for their space a week,“ she said. ”By just being there, they promote their businesses
and this has worked really, really well for many of the artists.
”We've been incredibly successful, but we would not have been as successful without the strong partnerships with local organizations and businesses supporting Mainly Art.“
Erica Newport is a daily reporter for The Bradenton Times. She covers art, culture and community. If you have a story that might interest Erica, please e-mail her using erica.newport@thebradentontimes.com address. She also takes your questions related to our weekly theme days and provides advice and opinions for our readers.
Please use this e-mail address for Ask Erica: ask.erica@thebradentontimes.com.
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