Hello all!
I put on my first fine arts show last year. I made our cafeteria into a
gallery. I asked the parents to 'buy' their child's work for a
suggested donation of $10.00. Some paid me a buck, some $20, most of
them $10. I had a silent auction for some pieces I framed. The
principal and a teacher got into a bidding war and bought a piece for
about $50 if I remember correctly. It was so great to see the look on
the little artist's face. We also had the best of the talent show
contestants perform on an outdoor stage. There were second graders who
played recorders to middle school students who had performed and written
their own songs. The Booster Club sold sparkling cider in plastic wine
glasses and Booster Moms and Dads made chocolate dipped strawberries and
other fancy treats. I ended up making about $1,800 in one evening. It
paid for the supplies I had to buy and left enough for supplies for this
year's show as well as a good portion of the art supplies we are using
this year. I don't teach in a very wealthy area of CA, I just really
got the kids and parents to buy into the evening. I think it helped
that it was a donation as well. Everyone paid for what they could.
I went to a stationary store that was going out of business and bought
the display boards dirt cheap which our Booster Club paid for. They
also gave me a bunch of display items as well. Like Jerry said, I also
matted each work. I bought some of the board and some of it was
donated. I had some kindergarten jewelry pieces in the show and a
jewelry store loaned me their display "necks" etc. They also gave me a
bunch of jewelry boxes that I used to give out the purchased jewelry. I
hit the Mervyn's department store this year that was going out of
business and got a lot of new display cases, etc.
To add to Jerry's email I also hang work. I didn't for the show but I
do in my room. I use butterfly clips and fishing wire. With the clips
I can exchange work whenever I want. Very easy.
