Planning for 50th Waterfowl Festival in November is Full Steam Ahead
The staff and volunteers of the Waterfowl Festival are busily planning for the 50th, scheduled for November 12-14, 2021.
“Many people don’t realize that planning for the Waterfowl Festival is a year-long endeavor so as of now we are counting on being able to celebrate our 50th this Fall – albeit with some changes for the safety designed to protect our artists, exhibitors, volunteer and the entire community,” said WF Board President Kevin Greaney. “ Most importantly we’re planning to celebrate our history, heritage, art, and culture as a community again.”
Waterfowl Chesapeake, the parent nonprofit of the Festival, was awarded two forgivable PPP (Payroll Protection Program) loans established by the 2020 CARES Act, with support from the Department of the Treasury. These much needed funds have allowed Waterfowl to keep staff on the payroll and working towards organizing for the 50th Waterfowl Festival.
Since November, the Virtual Art Gallery has generated a much needed sales boost to many fine artists who were juried into last year’s show. The site has recorded over $40,000 in sales during a time when art lovers were limited to online purchases. Those sales have been vital to the artists and Waterfowl’s planning since a percentage of each purchase helps support Waterfowl’s 2021 Festival. New works are being continuously added, too. Just this month, the Virtual Gallery was refreshed to include works from new artists in the local Working Artists Forum, WF’s Buy, Sell, Swap and Chesapeake Marketplace exhibits. More than 250 pieces of art are on sale in the gallery for the at-home shopper at https://waterfowlfestival.org/virtual-art-gallery/
Painter Julia Purinton and photographer Heather Orkis are top sellers, both sold five pieces from the gallery. Al Jordan’s “Frosty Morning” carving of a merlin was the top-priced piece, selling at $2950.
“By engaging our art buyers online and providing an exciting virtual experience for art collectors, we have kept the Festival in the hearts and minds of our collectors and fans.” Said Greaney. “We hope this momentum and online sales keeps us moving forward toward a terrific 50th Festival in the Fall where all our fantastic art can be enjoyed in person.”
At this time, the Festival is recruiting vendors and accepting applications for new artists who wish to exhibit for 2021. The links to the applications can be found at:
https://waterfowlfestival.org/apply-to-be-an-exhibiting-artist/
https://waterfowlfestival.org/apply-to-be-a-vendor/
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