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e <br />Western Art Association <br />309 North Pearl St., Ellensburg, Washington 98926 509-962-2934 <br />2017 Lodging Tax Application <br />Question 1) The Western Art Associations annual event is the "National Fine Art Show and Auction" which is held <br />the third full weekend in May, this year being May 19-21-2017. Each year the art show attracts many returning as <br />well as new collectors and buyers of fine art. The event is open to the public with no admission charge. A ticket is <br />required for the Saturday evening auction. The use of funds received will be targeted for marketing to an <br />audience of art enthusiasts and those with discretionary income in today's economy. We will use marketing <br />through television, radio, social media, print media such as national periodicals, posters, rack cards as well as our <br />invitation/brochures which are mailed to approximately 2500 individuals. <br />Prioritizing how grant money would be spent: 1) TV and radio $5000 2) Print media $2500 3) Social media $1000 <br />Question 2) The evidence used in our projections are based on 2016 event attendance, ticket sales, auction <br />bidders and buyers, surveys by exhibitors of booth visits. We project 1300 visitors will attend the 2017 event. <br />The conclusions from this information indicate that approximately 55% of our visitors are from outside Kittitas <br />County. Those who travel over 50 miles from their residence or place of business and staying overnight in paid <br />accommodations is estimated to be about 210 room nights. The participating artists account for 150 room nights <br />for a total of 360 room nights x $87.60* = $31,536.00. <br />*Smith Travel Report (reference) <br />Question 3) Measurement of our event's impact on tourism is based on sales; ticket, auction and artists booth <br />sales as well as random surveys taken by artists and greeters to the show. About 60% of tickets are pre -sales with <br />remainder being sold at the door. We are not always able to get buyer information at that time. Auction sales <br />require a bid card with gives us the buyers name, address and email. These are added to our overall mailing and <br />email lists. <br />The National Fine Art Show & Auction is date specific, always the third full weekend in May. The majority of our <br />direct mailings are to individuals who reside over 50 miles from Kittitas County. Our TV coverage is Washington, <br />Oregon and Idaho. Social media will also cover this tristate area. <br />The marketing of our neighbors in Kittitas County is much the same as it is for those who travel over 50 miles to <br />the event; direct mail, social media, radio, TV and print advertising following the seven day rule for <br />reimbursement. We always promote other county events, recreation and accommodations in our invitation <br />brochure. Our web designer is adding our logo and that of the City of Ellensburg and Kittitas County logos to our <br />web site and we will link to the KCCC and other event producing organizations. <br />Question 4) Other funding sources; we are presently researching foundations that will accept grant requests from <br />our organization. We have acquired the aid of a volunteer with grant writing experience and success to take this <br />project for us. We are seeking sponsors as usual and continuing with "Sponsor and Artists" program which has <br />been quite successful in the past. None of these funds are in hand at this time. We estimate our volunteer labor <br />force to have a value of $56,530.50 which represents 1,950 hours x $28.99*. <br />If our event could not be funded we would need to make a drastic revision to our advertising campaign. <br />*www.indempendentsector.org/volunteertime <br />Question 5) The Western Art Association is working on partnering with local hotel/motel establishments to <br />create a package for visitors to the art show. This would include a reduced room rate and include complimentary <br />tickets to the auction plus a poster of the event. One hotel is lined up now and we will work on soliciting others at <br />the other end of town. We also cross promote our event with Bares `n Broncs which is on the same weekend at <br />the Event Center. The Ellensburg Rodeo Royal Court is involved with our Friday Quick Draw Auction by showing <br />