Future of the Arts & Crafts Festival

This summer we celebrate the 50^th year of the Sun Valley Center Arts & Crafts Festival. This 50^th anniversary marks a milestone in our history—one of which we are very proud. It is also a great time to look to the future. After compiling the results of our membership survey and much internal discussion, Center leadership decided this was the appropriate time to find a new producer for this event so that we are able to focus more deeply on our mission and why we are part of this community—to provide transformative arts and educational experiences. After celebrating 50 years, we will pass on the Arts & Crafts Festival to our friend and colleague, Art Daves.

We are gratified to know that the Arts & Crafts Festival will still be part of our summers here in the valley and will be in very good hands. In order to ensure a smooth transition, Art has asked SVCA to facilitate the jurying process for the 2019 festival to ensure its quality is not compromised. The festival will continue to be run as a juried event with all the integrity, high quality and variety you expect. We look forward to seeing what Art Daves and his team will do to continue to improve the experience, while staying true to the festival’s traditions, artistic integrity and community experience.

As this era comes to conclusion, we thank our members, the multitude of artists, attendees, and the community partners, who have supported this festival over the last 50 years. We encourage you to continue your support of this celebration of the artist and their craft. 

About the new Festival Director:

Art Daves, owner of Altitude Events Group will be taking over the event in 2019. He has spent the last 25 years working exclusively in event management and has helped produce a wide variety of events ranging from large scale multi-sport projects including the Summer Olympics and Goodwill Games, to professional cycling stage races throughout the U.S., to made-for-TV events, to marketing programs, to charitable fundraising events. Three years ago, Art was first contracted with Sun Valley Center for the Arts to help produce both the annual Wine Auction and the Arts & Crafts Festival. Art knows the festival, The Center and this community. He understands the value of artists and their work and wants to continue the festival in a format that is similar to what The Center has built. Having a qualified and passionate presenter who values the festival and is eager to take it forward was an essential part of our decision making. We are excited to have a professional events company assume responsibility and look forward to seeing what Art Daves and his team will do to continue to improve the experience, while staying true to the Festival’s traditions and artistic integrity. The goals and schedule of The Festival will remain the same.

2019 Sun Valley Arts & Crafts Festival

Under Art Daves’ direction the 2019 Sun Valley Arts & Crafts Festival will be held on August 9-11 at Atkinson Park, Ketchum.

For more information:

sunvalleyartsandcraftsfestival.com
email: info@sunvalleyartsandcraftsfestival.com

Transition FAQs

1. History of the Festival

The original campus (now the home of the Community School) of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Humanities flourished as a facility for fine arts residencies. During the early years, the highly regarded faculty taught photography, printmaking and ceramics, and established the first art gallery in the Wood River Valley and the Sun Valley Center Arts and Crafts Festival.

2. Why has The Center decided to stop presenting the Festival?

The Center’s mission is based on education, and while we love the festival and the opportunities it provides for the artists and the community, we need to sharpen our focus and deploy our resources on mission based priorities. The 50th year marks a huge milestone in our history, but is also a great time to look to the future. Finding a qualified presenter who knows the festival, understands the value of artists and their work, and wants to continue the festival was an important part of our decision making.

3. Future Festival Schedule

The Festival will continue to take place during the second weekend in August. For the artists, applications will still be available via Zapplication and will continue to be available on December 1st for the upcoming year. The 2019 application period is now closed (Deadline was February 28, 2019).

4. What is The Center’s Role in Future Festivals

In order to ensure a smooth transition, The Center will run the 2019 jury process alongside Art and his team. Center staff will also work closely with Altitude Events Group for the next 15 months.

5. Will a new Festival mean different art and artists?

Artists will apply to the Festival using the same process SVCA has used for the past 12 years. Art Daves understands that the quality and diversity of The Festival is one of its core strengths. He has asked SVCA to facilitate the jurying process for the 2019 Festival to ensure that the quality is not compromised. Each year The Festival jury has selected a mix of new artists and familiar faces. We anticipate that will not change in the years ahead.