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Largo hopes new art festival is a big hit

The Largo Central Park Artists' Market, a juried event, is scheduled for March 24-25.

By LORRI HELFAND
Published January 27, 2007

LARGO - This spring, the city will have its first major juried fine arts festival in years.

"We've seen other communities have them so successfully over the years," organizer Sue Osborne said, "and we would like to have one in our community."

Osborne is the special events chairman for Partners N Progress, a local arts support foundation working with the city to stage the Largo Central Park Artists' Market on March 24 and 25.

The festival meshes well with the city's recent goal of making Largo more of an artists' hub.

"It's significant if we can pull it off," said Largo Mayor Pat Gerard. "I always thought we should have art festivals in the park. It's a perfect setting."

Osborne acknowledged that starting a new festival will be a challenge.

"We're aware that it's probably not going to be a huge moneymaker this year," she said. "What we want to do is grow this over the years so we have another outlet for art in Largo."

Judith Powers, executive director of the Pinellas County Arts Council, said such events can be successful if they have the right elements.

"Outdoor cultural festivals are really sort of a way of life in Florida," Powers said. "It's something that artists are tuned into, as well as residents and visitors."

Susan Rollins Gehring, president of the Professional Association of Visual Artists, also said a juried festival in Largo has the potential to attract artists.

"There's a quality level that the artists in PAVA are generally looking for," Gehring said. "You don't want to be in with a lot of crafters. And you want some sort of selection, or jurying."

To be successful, art aficionados say, festivals need to offer substantial prize money and ensure aggressive promotional campaigns.

The Largo Central Park Artists' Market will offer a total of $5,800 in cash prizes, including a $3,000 grand prize.

Osborne said she hopes to book about 100 artists for the event. So far, organizers have signed up about 25, with verbal commitments from several more, she said.

The types of art that will be represented include watercolor and acrylic painting, photography, mixed media, pottery, and jewelry. Each artist pays a $115 fee to enter the festival and sell the artwork.

Local artist Tony Blue, who is participating in and promoting the event, said what attracts him is "being where art buyers are."

Powers said the new Largo festival has a few things going for it.

For one, it will be held in a lush, outdoor setting, close to other amenities.

The park can accommodate about 8,000 patrons. Parking and admission will be free.

Another bonus is that the event, planned for March, will be held during the peak of the festival season.

While there are at least nine other Florida art festivals planned for that weekend, no other Pinellas festivals are listed for those dates, according to a Web site sponsored by Sunshine Artist magazine.

In conjunction with the event, Partners N Progress also plans to sponsor a competition for children ages 13 to 18. The Young at Art event will be held at the Cultural Center on Feb. 10. The Largo Central Park Artists' Market selection committee will choose 10 pieces that will be on display at the Largo Library, and a grand prize winner will be selected later.

Other major Tampa Bay area festivals include the Mainsail Arts Festival in St. Petersburg, the Art Harvest Show & Sale in Dunedin and the Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts in Tampa.

Powers said only time will tell whether Largo's festival will catch on.

"It's always challenging to start a new show," Powers said. "But there's always room for more great events."

IF YOU GO

Largo Central Park Artists' Market

When: March 24-25

Where: Largo Central Park.

Prize money: A total of $5,800 in cash prizes, including a $3,000 grand prize.

Information: E-mail mightyblue@gmail.com or call Sue Osborne at 727 543-5050.

[Last modified January 27, 2007, 00:01:46]