NWA Times: Starving art : Lack of funding puts Fayetteville Arts Festival in jeopardy

BY SUSANNAH PATTON Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008

The Fayetteville Arts Festival may be another casualty of a tight budget year if its organizers can’t gather enough financial support.

The festival did not receive any funding this year from the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission, which granted the festival’s funding request of $ 35, 000 in 2007. The commission denied more than $ 240, 000 in funding requests in April, citing a budget shortfall.

Marilyn Heifner, executive director of the commission, said less money was budgeted for 2008 in anticipation of an economic downturn.

The commission had about $ 150, 000 in unallocated funds to use for special projects, she said, all of which was awarded in November.

“ In the spring, we didn’t have any unallocated funds so we didn’t fund anything, ” she said.

Daniel Keeley, board president of the Fayetteville Downtown Partners, the organization responsible for putting on the festival, said the board didn’t directly appeal to the A & P Commission for funding this year and is relying on its now volunteer committee to raise $ 50, 000 by Monday.

“ This year we’re all volunteer, and things have kind of evolved differently, ” he said.

The volunteer committee has been working to raise funds since March.

“ We’ve got a very long way to go. We definitely need the support, ” Keeley said.

Fayetteville Alderman Lioneld Jordan said he thinks some of that support should come from the A & P Commission. He is sponsoring a resolution urging the commission to fund the festival.

Without the extra funding, he said, the festival is relying solely on donations from the community.

“ They said if they can’t raise the money within the next couple of weeks they won’t be able to have it, ” he said. “ I’d hate for that to happen. ”

Even if the committee is able to raise the $ 50, 000, Keeley said, the festival will have to be scaled down.

Downtown Partners had a paid staff last year and they spent a significant portion of their time on the festival. Factoring in their time, Keeley said, the budget for last year’s festival was more like $ 150, 000.

“ We had more things donated this year, so if we can get close to the $ 50, 000 mark, it will be very recognizable as the festival from last year, ” he said. “ But some of the most expensive components will have to be altered or reduced. It’s a whole different ballgame. ”

Heifner said the commission is cooperating with the committee to help put on the festival by having the visual arts portion at the Fayetteville Town Center. The Town Center is also hosting the art party the Friday night before the festival, she said.

Heifner said it will be up to the commission whether any funding is granted for the festival.