New Proposed Names for the La Quinta Arts Event
A juried issue put on by an experienced promoter with integrity, a proven runway record and financial security — and the ability to draw quality artists — are key qualifications that should be sought every bit the city of La Quinta begins to select who will produce its new signature arts festival, set to debut March 5-8.
More than than 100 residents, artists, producers, promoters and others packed the entrance hall of La Quinta City Hall on Wednesday night for a two-hour interactive workshop. The room was broken into groups of about 10 people each who were asked to create a listing of acme iii things they appreciate about fine art festivals and what qualities to look for in a producer.
La Quinta Arts Foundation and the urban center jointly announced the cancellation of the prominent La Quinta Arts Festival in a June 13 news release.
Other qualifications repeatedly listed at metropolis hall included open advice and respect for artists and the power to work with the city.
The lists volition be used in cartoon upwardly a Asking for Proposals which will exist posted on the city'due south website past end of the day Thursday, Community Resources Director Chris Escobedo said.
Arts festival promoters and producers will then take until July 24 to submit their proposals and staff will ultimately accept its recommendation to the City Council on Aug. 6, Escobedo said.
That would put everything on track for an issue to be held the start weekend in March — when the La Quinta Arts Festival had been traditionally held.
The foundation canceled its event saying it had outgrown the Borough Middle Campus park where information technology has been held since 2005.
Since June 13, city officials said they have received inquiries from various upshot producers, along with support from residents and artists who want to host a new March event.
La Quinta Arts Festival was started with the urban center's incorporation and grew to exist a nationally recognized fine arts event, traditionally held the beginning weekend in March. It was organized and operated by the nonprofit La Quinta Arts Foundation, which owns the trademarked festival name and drew artists from around the world.
The four-day juried event drew v,000 to 8,000 people per 24-hour interval and featured 200 artists from around the world. For many artists, the festival was a top income earner for the yr. The foundation reported that the event generated more than $56 million in fine art sales over the years, used to accolade more than $ane.3 million in higher scholarships to Coachella Valley students.
While the economic impact to the arts foundation is in the millions of dollars, the city hasn't put a dollar figure to the potential loss. Based on the foundation'due south written report that the 2019 festival generated $3.5 meg in sales, the city would have earned nigh $70,000 in sales tax revenue, but from the festival.
Only the city isn't able to track sales revenue enhancement revenue specific to any one event, and the any income would be offset past approximately $40,000 in waived park rental fee, pre-issue preparation and the price of refuse services offsets, former City Manager Frank Spevacek said recently.
The metropolis is committed to premiering a new signature event in 2020 so it does not lose the momentum or allow a lapse in which artists and festivalgoers could find another event that would keep them from returning to La Quinta.
"The community, artists and patrons are accustomed to visiting La Quinta for arts during that time menstruation, so our goal is to signal to the community and market that an issue will take place," Escobedo said.
New upshot needs a new proper noun
Wednesday's workshop participants also came upward with suggested names for the new signature issue. Among them were Art La Quinta, La Quinta Artopia, La Quinta Arts Affaire and La Quinta Arts in the Park.
Artist and La Quinta resident Gary Heath had suggested a name incorporating SilverRock in the title — SilverRock Art Fest or Art Fest at SilverRock — in a presentation to the City Quango on July 2.
Researching the names of the top 10 art shows in the state and and so studying word trends on Google, Heath said he plant that the strongest trends were for "art" or "arts," "festival" or "fair" with metropolis location as secondary.
Choosing a name, withal, will take some fourth dimension and take to be run through legal channels to be sure it doesn't borrow on the trademarked La Quinta Arts Festival proper name, City Director Jon McMillen said.
In one case a name has been selected, information technology will be trademarked besides and owned by the city, McMillen said.
While the focus of Wed's workshop was a new signature event, Mayor Linda Evans said there were ideas from the participants that can pb to other arts events as well, including suggestions for more youth and local artist involvement.
While a new event center is under construction at SilverRock, based on feedback from artists and arts festival producers, belongings the new signature outcome at Civic Center park is probably the best plan forward for the adjacent year or so, Evans said.
"Standing it as much as nosotros can with what nosotros've done and what we know is probably the best way to ensure a continued effect and its success," Evans said. "Nosotros'll entertain proposals for both (upshot venues) only that'due south our idea."
Participants in the workshop said they were excited to be part of the process of creating a new event and many said they are happy to volunteer in any manner needed.
"Art brings communities together and helps civilize united states of america," said Arlene Gottschalk, an artist who moved to La Quinta five months ago.
"I'm so excited about this new adventure," said Chad Allen, a longtime La Quinta resident and artist.
Whose show is this?
Kay Wolff, a member of the 1981 chore force for the incorporation of La Quinta and a fellow member of La Quinta Arts Foundation and its lath since the first festival was held, questioned who the new event would vest to — the city or the promoter. Whomever it is would probable be responsible for the funding, she said.
The first festival was put on in 1982 at a cost of $35,000 "and when it was all over nosotros had a thousand dollars left. Nosotros didn't brand annihilation," Wolff said. "I am assuming that since 1982, the price to produce a festival has probably gone up by 10 times, 20 times ... merely information technology's a costly affair."
She continued, "If it'due south the city's arts festival than I am assuming that they have, or they will budget for it. If information technology'south the promoter's arts festival, and then I assume they have deep pockets."
Cost to the metropolis won't exist fully known until the proposals are received from promoters, Escobedo has said.
The purpose of Midweek's workshop was to gather data and input from the community in moving forrad, Evans said.
"The city has decided we want an arts festival in March," Evans said. "We don't want to be the arts festival, we want to partner with a new partner for the arts festival."
Desert Sun reporter Sherry Barkas covers the cities of La Quinta, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage and Palm Desert. She can be reached at sherry.barkas@thedesertsun.com or (760) 778-4694. Follow her on Twitter @TDSsherry
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Source: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/la-quinta/2019/07/10/la-quinta-moves-forward-creating-new-signature-arts-festival/1696115001/