2017-014-Western Art Association

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