This is an open letter to those who have been involved in the Artisans Farm events, and supported our endeavors towards the opening of this location as a grand community events center and artisans gallery.

In these past several weeks, we have been faced with the fact of finances. Questioning the way in which we’ve operated the Artisans Farm, looking at our timeline for Grand Opening, tallying the ups and downs, making priorities.

At December’s 4th Avenue Street Fair, we gave opportunity for our artistic community to participate for 10% of sales and the commitment of time. Knowing this was a leap of faith, but feeling it was worth the sacrifice as a major building block for our mission here.

Our grandest vision is showing, through example, the way in which to achieve a life worth leading through your own artistic crafts and abilities. Taking ones hobbies to a level of success. Bringing the passion out of our fiery souls, and sharing it amongst our neighbors. Creating and widening local sustainability.

March 15th will mark our presence here at 4th & 4th for one solid year (currently here on a 2 year lease). As some of you may know, we have projected a Grand Opening Ceremony for April 1st. We want to have this location to our envisioned point of release, so the community can now utilize the space, and we can all benefit. Giving the location a year to fly -prior to contract renegotiation.

The dilemma we face:
The Artisans Farm has not generated any excess income for our pursuits here. The main asset has been in creating some great connections with inspired artisans community. These events have also been learning experiences. Every event we’ve thrown, the monies made from booth space rental simply went right back into the production of fliers for advertising. December’s 10% of sales put us below our investments for the affair.

Our original hope, starting back in July ‘09, was that this event would put us above what finances are keeping us here– giving us a jump start.

Christopher’s one man operation, “Affordable Computer Services”, has been paying all the dues. As of now, the primary client which has maintained our finances has taken an alternate course.

So these upcoming months, and getting to our projected April 1st deadline has been weighing on us more heavily. For a few weeks now, my thoughts have been scrambling for a decision. It is a hard one to make. Everyone I have spoken to has said to immediately ensure our presence here at 4th & 4th. Though I have struggled with the ever-present desire to uphold my word to the community, as to our plans for this March’s St. Fair event. Yet, I cannot deny this challenge we are faced with. We have no excess funds to put towards advertising (fliers, signage, etc.) for this March’s Fair. I do not wish to ask for the communities’ full commitment to the event, when we can not cover costs to lure in a crowd.

The decision made:
Ultimately the Grand Opening, and seeing this year through is the wiser decision. Ensuring those priorities will surely lend to an all-the-better “Artisans Farm” 4th Ave. Street Fair event come December ‘10.

With that being said, the 4th & 4th “Artisans Farm” Street Fair Fusion event for March 2010 is canceled. We will instead be selling 10×10 booth spaces on the side yard and drive-way end (off of 4th Avenue), for their worth of $400. If anyone of the “Artisans Farm” community happens to be interested, contact me ASAP. I will be placing an ad on Craigslist today. If there is a lower amount you’d be willing to pay for a booth space– Please email me with that amount + booth size, and I will contact you if we are unable to fill the spots come closer to the St. Fair. Or if you’d like to name a price for a booth space around the rest of the yard space (off 4th Street), or down the 4th Avenue driveway– email me those details.

We did ponder whether we could run the event amidst these fully payed for booth spaces. Our conclusion was that it’d be a huge stress, and would likely ruin the “Artisans Farm” vision. Based on past experience, asking someone who has payed in full for their booth to accommodate our event (with a much needed path-way) is asking too much.

Instead we’ve officially decided to begin a weekly run of the “Artisans Farm” starting April, following the Grand Opening of our location. With a newly revised ‘Artisans Guide’, among other details. We will surely email everyone with an official announcement as the time draws nearer.

–In conclusion, if you have any questions, comments or concerns, Please feel free to contact me.

Will be in touch.

Be Well;
In Harmony,
Jacqueline Mellars Granados Pollard