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Chalk the Bay Art and Music Festival Update
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SUMMARY:
The inaugural Chalk the Bay Art & Music Festival has received an incredible response from the artist community, with 104 applications submitted from talented artists across the country. The current festival budget is approximately $60,000, which has allowed the City to offer artist opportunities with stipends of $500 for 2D chalk artists, $800 for 3D chalk artists, and $1,000 for mural wall artists. Based on the current available funding, staff was able to invite 44 artists to participate in the festival, including 30 - 2D chalk artists, 12 - 3D chalk artists, and 2 mural wall artists. The long-term vision for Chalk the Bay remains to grow the festival to approximately 80 participating artists, but reaching that goal will require additional sponsorship support.
In addition to artist stipends, the festival budget includes a variety of operational expenses necessary to create a successful large-scale event, including live entertainment, tents, police support, overnight security, staffing, and other costs. The festival will also feature a Crazy Color Fun Run, which has its own associated expenses. Staff will continue evaluating the overall budget and identifying additional funding opportunities that may allow for more artists to be added. The festival will also include an Emerging Artist and Student Artist section along Cleveland Street, providing opportunities for newer artists and young creatives to participate and showcase their work alongside professional chalk artists.
Staff is continuing to seek sponsorship opportunities to help expand the event. One unique sponsorship opportunity allows businesses to directly support an artist by covering the cost of their stipend. In return, the sponsor’s name will be displayed alongside the sponsored artwork throughout the three-day festival. These artworks are expected to become highly photographed pieces, providing businesses with ongoing exposure as visitors share images of the artwork on social media. With the combination of talented artists, live music, interactive programming, and family-friendly activities, Chalk the Bay is positioned to become a signature Clearwater event that celebrates creativity, community, and placemaking in the downtown core. Anyone interested in the student artist application or the sponsorships application can visit myclearwater.com/chalk and follow the links on the right hand side.