Greater Pine Street Business Association Inc

THE SOUTH END ARTS AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION WAS ABLE TO FURTHER REBUILD ART PROGRAMMING IN 2021 COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC. THE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IS MAINLY SUPPORTED THROUGH EVENT REGISTRATION AND SPONSORSHIPS, RELATED TO THE ANNUAL SOUTH END ART HOP, WHICH WELCOMES THOUSANDS OF VISITORS TO THE SOUTH END ARTS DISTRICT OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT EACH SEPTEMBER. PRE-PANDEMIC, THE NUMBER OF VISITORS WOULD BE IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS, THOUGH THAT WAS REDUCED TO ABOUT 6,500 IN 2020. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2021 WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE GREAT WEATHER FOR THE THREE DAY FESTIVAL WHICH ALLOWED FOR ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE TO ENJOY OUTDOOR EVENTS INCLUDING AN ARTIST MARKET, A "KIDS HOP" INTERACTIVE PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES TAKING PLACE AT AN ESTABLISHED FARMERS MARKET; A 1/3 OF A MILE STREET CLOSURE DURING THE EVENING FOR VISITORS TO SPREAD OUT SAFELY; GORGEOUS LIGHT SHOWS ON HISTORIC BUILDINGS EACH NIGHT, AND A PROGRAM OF 90 LOCATIONS; INCLUDING ARTIST STUDIOS, BUSINESSES, AND RESTAURANTS TO VISIT AND SUPPORT. IN ADDITION TO THE SOUTH END ART HOP, 2021 BROUGHT THE SECOND YEAR OF THE SEABA ARTIST RESIDENCY, IN WHICH ONE ARTIST WAS AWARDED A YEAR LONG ART STUDIO RENTAL FREE OF CHARGE. THE LARGE INDUSTRIAL STUDIO SPACE IS SPONNSORED BY UNSWORTH PROPERTIES, WHO OWN A FULL BLOCK OF BUILDINGS IN THE SOUTH END THAT HOST LOCAL ARTIST SPACES AND SMALL BUSINESSES. THE SEABA ART CURATION PROGRAM CAME BACK IN FULL SWING WITH HUNDREDS OF ARTISTS SHOWING WORK IN HISTORIC BUILDINGS UP TO 10 PIECES EACH QUARTER, YEAR- ROUND. A NEW WEBSITE WAS CREATED DURING THE PANDEMIC TO ASSURE THAT POTENTIAL ART BUYERS COULD SHOP FROM THE COMFORT AND SAFETY OF THEIR HOMES. THE CURATION PROGRAM FEATURES EVERY PIECE OF ARTWORK ON THE SEABA WEBSITE AND HAS CONTINUED TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW. THE NEW PROGRAM WAS STARTED IN DECEMBER 2021 WITH A WINTER ARTIST MARKET, WHICH ALLOWED FOR 25 ARTISTS TO SET UP TABLES AND BOOTHS INDOORS FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING.