PATRON’S AWARD PROGRAM HONORS ARTISTS AND CRAFTSMEN AT THE 59TH ANNUAL ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL IN FAIRHOPE

Patron's Award Program Form (pdf)

There are many ways the participants in the Arts & Crafts Festival in Fairhope, an Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce event, are honored including the Awards Dinner, where over $14,500 in prize money is given to the best of the best. However, the best honor they receive is when visitors to the festival purchase their works.

The planning committee for the 59th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival in Fairhope is offering a way patrons can further honor their favorite artists and craftsmen through the Patron Award Program. By doing so, the patrons themselves also receive recognition.

It’s so simple. All one needs to do is contact the Chamber and sign up for the Patron’s Award Program and commit to purchase at least $100 worth of arts or crafts from one vendor. When those patrons visit the festival they will drop by the Chamber office in Fairhope and pick up a ribbon to be placed on their chosen vendor’s booth and a placard bearing their own name or the name of a business, which is also be placed at the vendor’s booth. Patrons may purchase works from any vendor they choose. All the money goes directly to the artist. The more patrons who commit, the more money that is guaranteed to be spent at the festival.

“Each year we have about 50 patrons who commit to purchase $100 worth or work,” said Ginger Parnell, director of Tourism and Special Events for the ESCoC. “It is such a wonderful way to honor our participant’s talents. The only cost involved is the purchase of the works, which becomes the property of the patron.”

The 59th Annual Arts & Crafts Festival is an Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce event. For more information on how to sign-up to be a patron, contact the Chamber at 621-8222.