By Christopher Johnson
The Clare County Arts Council is shifting gears with new leadership, bringing exciting artistic experiences to the table. Get ready for the Clare Music and Art Festival’s return to the downtown area on August 9th, celebrating the fusion of fine art and live music. After a lukewarm turnout of less than a hundred attendees last year, organizers Tom House and Dani Montini are revamping their approach. They’re stepping up social media engagement and local advertising, including radio and TV spots, to make this year’s event unforgettable. With backing from the Arts Council, Clare Area Chamber, DDA, and local businesses, the festival is poised for growth and success.
“I went out and talked to merchants,” explains Dani, who stresses much better networking this time around. “I think we achieved what their vision was. We have had excellent communication with them, and I’m just trying to push it over the finish line.”
The festival is shaping up to resemble a sort of miniature version of what we’ve come to expect from Clare’s bigger events, such as of the likes of St. Paddy’s weekend. Similarly, the goal is to create more engagement for our downtown area that not only reconnects foot traffic with fine art culture, but creates exposure for up and coming musicians, offering a scenic, all-day venue to perform and jam with other artists.
She is also aspiring to grow the event’s reach for future shows, and anticipates a deepening pool of interest as more musicians connect and spread awareness.
“I’m hoping that because we do this,” Montini says, “that we’ll bring in musicians, they’re going to want to be in it next year, and we’ll have enough support and funding—this is not cheap—to expand it out of the DDA area.”
That kind of growth would be a welcome change. North of the hospital, she notes, promotional activity tends to taper off—turning the area into something of a “ghost town.” She envisions more robust participation across the entire city, including both ends.
“If I can help enhance that and make that happen, it would be great,” Dani prides.
With Shari Buccilli coordinating Depot Days in the hours leading up to the musical acts, the Clare Depot anticipates good vibrations for art exposure well early into the day. There will be silent auctions items, a bake sale, children train rides and a tour of the depot. The juried art show will be from 10-5. It will be located to the east of the depot. These are free events. Bear in mind,, the money raised from Depot Day will go to building an outside restroom.
In the spirit of similar exhibitions, such as the annual Art Walk, it is important to consider the importance of coordination between community leaders, rather than letting a good opportunity flounder because of poor planning and communication. Especially for a single organization with little to lean on. It literally takes a village.
“We’re excited to be involved and have a juried art show this year,” says Carol Santini, director of the Arts Council. “Its a new adventure for us.”
Indeed, having the support from the Depot, which includes the Clare Area Chamber and Arts Council under one roof, has proven a powerful ally in recent years, with much innovation that continues to command more respect every year.
The evening will consist of three inside acts at 3 iconic locations: Timeout Tavern; who will be hosting solo guitarist, Barney Betka. Batka is a local nurse anesthetist who also happens to be an aggressive rocker that never fails to entertain. Following directly will be a performance at Ruckles Pier, who will be hosting Vivian Barret, a talented singer, guitarist and pianist who is currently attending Interlochen to pursue songwriting. Later at 9:30, during the After Glow, Triple Beam Local will be entertaining at the Doherty.
The space between will be filled with varied acts from buskers, performing on both the sidewalks and alleyways throughout the festival’s duration. Some of the sidewalk buskers include KC Jones and Elaine Hunyadi, Tamara Mackie, Steve Roth, Mike War, and Woodman Unplugged. Artist Alley has its own lineup of buskers that includes Sweetheart Turbadors, Caitlin Rushing, Smoke Show, Triple Back, and Crazy Chestur. Later in the evening, any remaining buskers who want to break down and join a jam session during the Doherty’s After Glow are welcome to head over.
Organizers want to remind attendees that this event is BYOC (bring your own chair), as many of the acts are outdoors and limited to narrow performance space.
