FarmArt.org

Community non-profits and their causes–We couldn’t do anything without our donors and sponsors!  The Foothill Farmlands ARTS Festival is a living example of just that.

This project began with three people and one powerful foundation having synchronistic inspiration:  Olivia Armstrong, Central Sierra Arts Council’s executive director (11/2005 to 6/2008), Sasha Farkas, Farms of Tuolumne County’s president, B.Z. (that’s me) with a wild-hair vision, and a far-away Southern California Foundation. 

For years I’d been dreaming of coordinating a festival in Tuolumne County–one that would incorporate the full gammet of our commmunity’s artistic life. Then in early 2006 Olivia attended a conference and came home FIRED UP about cultural heritage tourism.  Sasha, a young buck born and raised here, manages two local apple farms.  His parents were heavily involved in the local arts community and he grew up in 4-H raising sheep. One day he stopped at the Arts Council and asked, “Could we get some artists out on our local farms?”  Then the wizard waved his magic wand! Within weeks of these conversations and visions The James Irvine Foundation, one of California’s largest benefactors, sent out Requests For Proposals (RFPs) for new grants. We found a perfect fit for bringing those two ideas together.

Now mix in a bit of my own wild imagination, and you’ve got the Foothill Farmlands ARTS Festival!  I’ve worked in festivals since 1977 as a storyteller, children’s program director and emcee.  I’ve been lucky to work closely with two of Northern California’s most productive festival organizations:  Fire On The Mountain Productions and The Strawberry Music Festivals. These folks taught me what it takes–from talented performers to great artisans and artists to porta-potties and road safety.  Oh yeah, some budget realities, too.  Both of these production companies are based in Tuolumne County.  What luck! They care about their community, so both offered to help.

We were on our way with our first local sponsors–even before we wrote the grant!  They helped us figure out what we’d need to pull this off.  We started planning, building, imagining what this could be.  Of course, Olivia and I had to convince Central Sierra Arts Council’s Board of Trustees that this was a worthwhile cause.  Everyone knew it would be much WORK, but in a giant leap of faith we all agreed to JUMP.

If you’ve ever been involved in grantwriting, then you know the drill: Find the funder; build a dream that will fit; write, write, write; make the funder’s deadlines, then WAIT.  ”Forget about it!”  That’s what we did.  For the next three months we went about our regular business of trying to help our local arts council survive.  Then we got a call, “You’ve made two review cuts,” the Irvine Foundation rep told us.  We were in the top 10% under consideration!

Thanksgiving, 2006.  Family, friends, a new love in my life–AND word that we had been chosen for the grant!  We were going on this journey.   On the way we’d learn about all of kinds new things: Cal-Trans’ and CHP requirements for special events. Our county’s food permit process. Recruiting local sponsors and donors. Working with local farmers and artists. And lots more.

If your community is contemplating this kind of effort, I say, “Go for it!” Is it a lot of work? You betcha. But it’s also an amazing way to link a community together, to discover pit-falls, to meet new friends and find out how much they love their home.

Everyone involved in The Foothill Farmlands ARTS Festival is devoted to Tuolumne County and the rich life we all share in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California (Yosemite National Park is in our neighborhood). Surely your town is much the same, especially if you’re lucky enough to live in a place of incredible natural beauty and rich cultural history, like we are.

Well, I’ve got to go water my garden.  Squash plants, tomatoes and artichokes are smiling at me.  Maybe I’ll get into my studio to paint today.

B.Z.