Art walk to rely on donors? support

To the editor:

Wednesday evening, Feb. 15, the Fairfield City Council Ways and Means Committee met to discuss distribution of $48,000 in Local Option Sales Tax income and agreed to fund Fairfield 1st Fridays Art Walk in the amount of $20,000. While not meeting 1st Fridays? needs and request, FFFAW is grateful that the city recognizes the immense value FFFAW?s monthly events provide to the city of Fairfield and is willing to continue to provide support to the organization. Fairfield 1st Fridays Art Walk is the only event that happens every single month which consistently pulls 2,500 to 4,000 to the Fairfield town square during summer events. The arts organization is entering its 10th year and has established itself as Fairfield?s signature event. The events can be described as diverse and creative celebrations of the visual, performing, literary, film, ethnic and historical arts accessible to all ages and cultures.

The monthly FFFAW events are known statewide and have won the state Tourism and the Arts Award in 2008, following the previous Iowa Tourism Event of the Year honor. These awards recognized Fairfield 1st Fridays Art Walk for its outstanding performance, outstanding partnership between tourism and the arts, outstanding economic impact and effective marketing.

The economic impact these 12 events have on the city of Fairfield is significant. A zip code analysis conducted a few years ago revealed an eightfold increase in local and visitor traffic at shops and restaurants during Fairfield 1st Fridays Art Walk event. This study also showed that 23 percent of visitors to the square were from out of town. Based on data from the convention and visitors bureau and the state of Iowa, the average daily expenditure of day travelers is $159.44. Using this expenditure, the percentage of out of town attendees to a FFFAW event and an average attendance of 3,000 during one of the six outdoor events, tourism accounts for $110,014 in food, gas and shopping on one evening alone! Since events are around four hours in duration, this means that our events generate over $25,000 an hour in retail spending for the city of Fairfield.

In addition, there is a significant deferred economic benefit to the town of Fairfield from returning visitors to shop nor does it take into consideration that the reputation of FFFAW events alone is enough to entice tourists to visit Fairfield on other days of the year. Cambridge Investment Research Inc., one of the largest employers in the area, frequently recruits new employees and often cites FFFAW events as a prime example of Fairfield?s cultural diversity and community-supported arts scene.

Fairfield 1st Fridays Art Walk has demonstrated the ability to positively impact the local economy on multiple levels. FFFAW enhances the quality of life within the community of Fairfield through the facilitation of events that encourages individuals and organizations to collaborate and celebrate within the community. The board of directors and staff of Fairfield 1st Fridays will continue to provide quality programming, but, because of the dramatically reduced L.O.S.T. funding, will require generous financial support from the public, local businesses and corporations to continue to have such a strong economic impact on our community.

? Dania De Bortoli, executive director of Fairfield 1st Fridays Art Walk