Not your ordinary Art Walk! Grant proposal for Awesome Foundation

The Sanford Art Walk explores the intersection of visual and the art of Drag!

What is it?

Here is the event-blueprint directly from the Awesome Foundation grant application  ~ Submitted January 11, 2016

TELL US ABOUT YOUR AWESOME PROJECT:

A little posse of artists in Sanford, Florida were discussing the similarities and differences in the creative process of visual artists as compared to the art of drag (as in Drag Queens). 

This discussion led us down a 'rabbit hole' of wondering, analytical dissection and eventually inspiration. We started imagining situations where art, artists, galleries, exhibits, drag artists, performance venues and the general art-&-culture-loving public would ALL be engaged in this exploration. 

What would the bi-product be of a strategically-designed mixing and blending of these ingredients? What would the experience be for the patrons and for the artists? Months after-the-fact what did we think would be the most profound outcome, the most significant achievement and lessons learned?

A blueprint for an "art happening' was born, a production team put into place and timeline of tasks laid out, a website created and fundraising commenced.

There are many moving parts to this event. The website lays it out best, but here are the main features ~

1) A collaboration of key members of Sanford's arts community produce an event based on the theme "Art is a Drag"

• Downtown Sanford arts community creates ways of exploring the intersection of visual art & the art of drag. 
• The 7 official art walk venues will feature an artist and/or art exhibit related to the theme and will have at least 2 Drag Queens hosting their business for the evening.

2) Get Your Drag On! Everyone is invited to Drag with opportunities throughout the evening to win awards and prizes for your level of drag.

3) A souvenir passport & autograph book of the feature queens allows the public to collect autographs and stamp their booklet as they visit each art walk venue (completed booklets = more chances to win prizes)

4) A signature "Art is a Drag" exhibit will be double-juried for a "People's Choice" award and a "Best of Show" selection from an expert panel.

5) Integrate the month-long #SanfordSelfie Juried Competition ~ March 1 - March 31

Building awareness leading up to the event, opportunities during and remembrances following

$100 Best picture award

• Weekly Best Picture prizes for contextual selfies ~ Selfies with art or anything drag related
• Art Selfie Stations related to Drag Queens on display for patrons to photograph

6) Drag Transformations
Make-up artists will station the barber-chairs of a local salon for "Drag Transformations" by appointment and walk-ins

7) Neptune's Drag Extravaganza & After-Party

Stage, lights, music, dancing, cocktails, and of course a drag show. Following the art walk the headlining Drag Queens perform

HOW WILL YOU USE THE MONEY?

Most of this event is being produced with volunteer labor and donated services, but there are still costs that can not be bartered. We have been busy writing grants and seeking individual donors to cover as much overhead as possible.

We are seeking an amount that will ensure the bottom-line needs of the event are met. Logistical basics such as ~
Police security along the Art Walk route
Insurance
Collateral: printing for event posters, cards and programs
Renting the Princess Theatre for the Drag Extravaganza & After-Party
Lighting & Sound system
Table and chair rentals

However, it is also very important to us that the artists and performers who agree to participate in our event get paid too.

As artists ourselves, we are too well aware of the expectation that we will "donate" our art. We are asked all the time. We don't want to perpetuate this trend. It is part of our mission to secure funding so that ALL artists and performers can be fairly paid for this event.

It is a strenuous gig we have laid-out for our Drag Queen performers.
It will be a 7-hour night (5:00-midnight). 3-1/2 hour shift working an Art Walk gallery as a hostess and the other 3-1/2 hours working a party and performing.
We are planning for 2 'drag' hostesses per venue.
It is too much to ask 1 person to be "ON" performing their drag, mingling, engaging with the public, handling hecklers or overbearing fans. Two or more drag artists together is safer and it creates a more ideal environment for their art to be expressed.

It is our hope that this campaign will EXCEED it's goal and help fund future Art Walk events.

We know that when "Art is a Drag" is all said and done, people will be eager to see what other innovative ideas the new Art Walk committee will bring to Sanford's Art Walk. The success of this event will also show favorably in future grants and other fundraising initiatives.

Maybe there is one single donor that can put us all out of our misery and get us back to focusing exclusively on putting together a groundbreaking event with record-breaking attendance.

Until then, we gratefully accept any and all denominations from our friends and family, from other artists that recognize a worthwhile cause, from our neighbors and supporters of Sanford and from the die-hard advocates, like ourselves, of arts and culture anywhere and everywhere.

HOW WILL THIS PROJECT MAKE ORLANDO MORE AWESOME:

Sanford is Orlando's little sister. We have no resources here for getting this kind of money without prohibitive bureaucratic 'hoop-jumping' and long lead-times. Please help. It's going to be a really incredible moment and Your Awesomeness will be recognized as being integral in us being able to pull it off. I'm sure there is a ton of Orlando central projects and requests. But you won't regret giving us your support and you'll be proud you helped this project have its time. It will help more than just Orlando by elevating the notion of drag as an art form, by emphasizing the relationship between visual art and the art of drag as kin in the creative process. It will be AWESOME!