Dear Lea,
So after visiting the ArtsFair this past weekend, I came to realize that there were actually 3 separate arts fairs going on in Downtown Bellevue. Do you know who sponsors each of the 3 fairs and why it isn’t just one big Bellevue arts fair? It’s a confusing message.
– Frazzeled by Fairs
Dear Frazzeled by Fairs,
It’s funny that you ask this question because I had the same one myself. It wasn’t until I went to the arts fairs last Friday that I realized that not only were there 3 different fairs, but that they weren’t connected to one other on a grander scale. Eager to find the answer to my questions, I tracked down a Bellevue Arts Museum information booth where I picked the brain of one of the volunteers. The Bellevue Arts Museum ArtsFair is put on by the Bellevue Arts Museum, and this year it was sponsored by Microsoft.
It is the longest running and most prominent arts event in the Northwest, with its first annual ArtsFair in 1947 presented by Bellevue Square. Over 350,000 visitors are speculated to have come to the ArtsFair over the weekend. This particular ArtsFair always occupies the west side of Bellevue Square from outside the mall, extending to the first level parking lots.
The second fair is the 6th Street Fair: A taste of the arts, which was literally on 6th Street and 106th Ave. This arts fair was put on by the Bellevue Downtown Association. It featured more than 120 artists and live musical entertainment.
Photo courtesy of B.A.M.
Photo courtesy of B.A.M.
The third fair is the Bellevue Festival of the Arts, which has been hosted in the Cost Plus World Market Parking lot for 24 years. It is put on and sponsored by the non-profit organization, Craft Cooporitive of the North West (CCNW). CCNW’s mission is to create a supportive and sustainable environment for artisits, while contributing to the community. They have donated the proceeds from their annual fair to those in need, such as Lifelong AIDS Alliance, local shelters and food banks, youth programs, and a rural teaching program in India.
Why they don’t just team up and form an alliance for one grand Bellevue Arts Fair, I don’t know. I assume it has something to do with the ultimate goals of each sponsor, profit versus not for profit, etc. I hope this clears it up for everyone because I agree with you that it’s a “confusing message.”
Dazzled by Fairs,
Lea
Have something YOU want to ASK? Write me at lea@downtownbellevue.com!
