Festival of Interests - 2011
The Festival of Interests was designed to be an evening of creative talents; with exhibitions for the general public. There will be music, written & visual arts. We had hopes that the fact we have six published authors within our community would have a positive reaction towards others. The Dyckman Library had a display table featuring their Library and the things they have to offer our community. They did show a few highly prized books out at out Festival as well.
- Date: Thursday, 11/4/10 4pm - 730pm, The Eagles Orchid Inn, Sleepy Eye, MN (Attendance = 150)
- Partner Organization(s): Dyckman Free Library, Nick Finstad from Sleepy Eye On Sale Liquor, Chamber of Commerce, Eagles Club
- Partner Organization(s) Contribution/Role in the Program: Dyckman Free Library - had informational booth of TdS at event. Also had various books available through this system that the general public can check out through their public library systems.
- Nick Finstad - Set-up + wine tasting
- Eagles Club - Venue (charged half-price of room)
- Chamber of Commerce - $100 donation
Partner Financial Support: $397.77
In-Kind Costs: $287.50
Program Outputs: We made attempts to increase the attendance by selling tickets to enter to win the Door Prize, being a handmade quilt.
Many people were surprised to see such books existed in our Library and now have the chance to go to the Library and see firsthand what they are all about. We were also lucky enough to get fabulous vendors to donate their time and treats for our festival to make it a hit.
Measurable Outcomes may be collected by survey, anecdotal responses, pre-test/post-test, observations; Describe proposed end user change in Behavior, Attitude, Skills, Knowledge, Condition and/or Status.
- Public will be enlightened by a wide variety of artistic talent within our community.
- These published authors are: Renee Wendinger "The Orphan Train"; David Gehrke "A Shiver Runs Through It"; Edna Thayer "Memoirs of a German War Bride"; Nichole Helget "A Summer of Ordinary Ways" & " The Turtle Catcher"; Elizabeth Scobie "View of Sleepy Eye"; Frede Westergaard " The Golden Years"; Bernadette Schneider " The Lost or Tossed Are Now Bernadette's Treasurers"; Sleepy Eye Historical Society "The Journey".
- These books will be for sale.
We did make attempts to ask our vendors what they thought of our Festival. We had thought perhaps of making this an annual event. However, we are sure there are changes to be made. We had made a form for each our vendors that is titled "Your Opinion and Comments About the Festival of Interests Are Required". Within this form we asked them way they liked about our festival and what they would change about it. Of course we asked for any suggestions they could offer us. And, as a society, we asked if they would be willing to help us with the next festival. We also took this form to our Annual meeting, so not to be limited to just our vendors. We asked attendees as well. This form really helped us get a good grasp on some of the vendors location and how we did have them set up. We realized that the vendors and artists preferred to be 'mixed' together versus separated as "Artists" and "Vendors".