Tallman Art and Music Festival canceled
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Diane Sime, left, and Sally Jones, sisters from Janesville, look over art prints at a booth displaying artwork from the Leuca Guild of Milton at the Tallman Festival of Music and Arts in 2007.
JANESVILLE — If you’ve tucked away money for a special piece of art at this year’s Tallman Art and Music Festival, you’ll have to find another place to spend it.
The 2009 Tallman Art and Music Festival has been canceled, the Rock County Historical Society announced Thursday.
“We don’t know if it is directly related to the current economic situation, but lack of sufficient artists participating in the festival and a downturn in community sponsorship has unfortunately forced us to cancel this year’s event,” Duke Ellingson, board president, wrote in a press release.
Festival organizers had hoped for at least 30 artists, but had commitments from only between 15 and 18, Ellingson said.
“We want to ensure we host quality programs, and with the current situation, we did not feel we could do that for this year’s festival,’’ he said.
For the first time, the event this year was supposed to be two days—Aug. 1 and 2—at the Lincoln-Tallman House grounds, 440 N. Jackson St. The 53rd annual event was to feature artists displaying and selling their wares plus entertainment and food.
But now that won’t happen.
“We are disappointed we have to cancel the festival this year, but we are confident the event will be back bigger and better than ever in 2010,” Ellingson wrote in a press release.
Executive Director Madge Murphy said she supports the board decision.
“It’s the right choice, but I feel bad the community will lose out on such a wonderful event,” she said.
By Thursday afternoon, Murphy had contacted all but one of the event’s sponsors as well as artists who had been juried into the show.
In general, they were supportive and understood it’s better to pull the plug now than not put on a good event, she said.
But Murphy also said the artists were concerned because for some of them the show is part of how they make their living.
In September, historical society board members will start planning for an expanded and improved 2010 festival. Organizing committee members hope to include student artwork in the event and theme, according to the news release.
Jul 12, 2009 at 3:36 p.m.
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The Tallman Art Festival was the means for raising the largest amount of money for RCHS each year.The present leadership has run it and most of the other activities into the ground with the exception of the House Walk which was the highest since the early 90's.All profits this year will have to make up for all of this year's failures.Countless numbers of volunteers have stepped aside until changes are made in the present leadership.Along with volunteers and supporters are contributions. Excuses,broken promises, lack of leadership and poor public relations have ruined a wonderful organization. It is with great hope RCHS will be able to rebuild and become all it can be in our community. It is a jewel in our county's history and should be enjoyed, supported, and respected by all of us.
Jul 11, 2009 at 12:53 p.m.
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www.rockcountyarts.com
Jul 11, 2009 at 12:43 p.m.
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HELLO!?!
Could someone please address the question as to the health of the arts community here in Janesville? Unless of course you'd rather point fingers (as usuall).
Jul 11, 2009 at 11:58 a.m.
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The Tallman show will be missed this year, but planning will begin soon for 2010. An alternative event is planned for Sunday, August 2nd, partnering area artists and unique, independent Janesville businesses...the Janesville Art Loop 2009.
Jul 11, 2009 at 10:58 a.m.
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Wisconsin Arts and Crafts Directory is the 'bible' for artists selecting and scheduling their season. Tallman is not in listed. Craft show planning begins in January and is completed by March. 15-18 returning vendors means sales were slow or a show with better attendance/sales was selected. Charging an entrance fee does not guarantee buyers-only it just guarantees less attendance.
Jul 11, 2009 at 9:52 a.m.
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Isn't this really about that has no support for the arts? What choices do we have here for live music, or drama, galleries, exhibitions...? It seems if you ride a HD thru town as a group for a charity it's front page news with media coverage weeks before the event.
Jul 11, 2009 at 7:59 a.m.
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They could get up and coming local art students at Urock and beloit college to join in. They could make a few bucks for schooling and we could get some original art work. By the way if anybody is interested the big Madison Art show on the square is today and tomorrow.
Jul 10, 2009 at 6:43 p.m.
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Because JanesVILLAIN has no idea how anything works.....
Jul 10, 2009 at 5:49 p.m.
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hannah, you have no idea how these things work. The board has to find the money for a professional grant writer to craft proposals and seek money for a study. (It's not required to have a professional, but the competition is so fierce that that's basically the way it is done these days.) If they don't have the money, they can't even get the person who can get them more money. By all accounts Murphy has done an excellent job far above her professional experience and her service is appreciated.
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Clearly, 2009 was not the year to expand the festival. It's not clear that it would have come off even if it were limited to one day, given the depth of this recession. The history of the event has always been a little precarious, especially because of the dependence on good weather.
Jul 10, 2009 at 5:49 p.m.
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That's a shame, but hardly surprising. I went last year and purchased an item. It was a nice time, but I don't think it needed to be a 2 day event.
Jul 10, 2009 at 5:41 p.m.
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Yes its sad to see this major fundraiser for the Tallman House be cancelled but I dont know any artist in this economy that can afford $75 booth rental. People are not buying things that would help the exhibitors recoup that high of a booth fee.
Jul 10, 2009 at 4:58 p.m.
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I would have to share the opinion that I've heard elsewhere that the quality has actually slipped the past several years. Some suspect that the change to a two day event was an effort to draw a better slate of exhibitors. Unfortunately that appears to have backfired.
Jul 10, 2009 at 4:48 p.m.
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Too bad. I wish they would still do a one day show. :(
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