For the third year, Arts Month in Historic Williamsburg is gearing up, with a new approach to targeted events under specific art-inspired themes and continuing encouragement for combined events.
The month — filled with art events that all lead up to the main event, the 45th annual An Occasion for the Arts on Oct. 5 — kicks off Friday in both the City of Williamsburg and Yorktown.
Art House in City Square, located in the Stryker Building, will host its first exhibition from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Friday; Yorktown’s opening night festivities will be at the Freight Shed at Riverwalk Landing from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday.
Arts Month officially began in 2011, when consumer spending on overnight room stays, meals and retail purchases totaled more than $460 million in September and October, according to data prepared by the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance.
Using 2009 as a baseline year to evaluate Arts Month growth, spending increased more than $14.5 million in 2011. Last year, Arts Month spending increased almost $20 million over 2009.
In May 2011, the Office of Economic Development directors for the City of Williamsburg and James City and York County hired Terry Buntrock as Arts Month coordinator; her salary is paid by the three localities and the Alliance equally.
Though she was hired to promote Arts Month two years ago, it wasn’t Buntrock’s first venture into promoting arts in the area. In 2006, she became involved in an effort to promote visual arts during Jamestown 2007, the 400th anniversary of Jamestown’s founding.
At that time, Buntrock created a brochure and website to give Jamestown 2007 visitors something extra to do when they got here. The project continued into 2009, then the Alliance took over the arts map.
In between leaving the position in 2009 and being rehired in 2011, Buntrock continued volunteering in arts ventures in the area, including serving as chairwoman of the Williamsburg Area Arts Commission.
Because she was hired in May 2011, Buntrock did not have much time to get her hooks into Arts Month programming that year. She ramped up programming last year and continued to push it this year.
The Alliance puts funding toward promoting Arts Month, including through commercials.
“September is the least visited month of the year in the Historic Triangle,” Buntrock said.
The Alliance creates commercials to appeal to women ages 35 to 65 because experts say women make most of the travel decisions for their families, so attracting women is important, Buntrock said. Using things like fashion, cuisine, wine and art — all of which are rolled into Arts Month programming — the commercials aim to attract that demographic to the area.
When the women arrive in town with their families, their husbands find things they enjoy in addition to Arts Month, such as golf and tennis, Buntrock said.
Changing the focus of art events toward specific themes, including “art inspires fashion for you and your home” and “art inspires cuisine” was one of Buntrock’s main efforts this year.
Under the “art inspires cuisine” theme, restaurants are increasing their display art or creating a dish or cocktail inspired by artwork. Participating restaurants include Second Street An American Bistro, Aromas World, The Trellis Restaurant, MAD About Chocolate and artcafe26.
Arts Month will feature several new events, and the website has been tweaked in hopes of becoming more user-friendly: Events are listed by week.
Buntrock isn’t sure exactly how many events are involved, but knows there’s plenty for people to choose from: “There are more than anybody can do,” she said.
Buntrock has been interested in art for her entire life and spent time in seminary school due to a fascination with theology and art in the church. Drawing on that appreciation, she reached out to area churches to bring new events to arts month that could attract a different demographic.
“It’s just something we already have here and we might as well use it,” she said, explaining events will take place at Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, Grace Episcopal Church in Yorktown and the Jamestown Memorial Church at Historic Jamestowne. Williamsburg’s Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church’s ministry City Arts Cafe is also putting on an event at the Kimball Theatre on Sept. 6.
For a full listing of Arts Month events, visit the Arts Month website. Continue to check in with WYDaily, as coverage of Arts Month events and featured artists will be posted throughout the month.
This article has been corrected to reflect the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance is responsible for funding commercials and other promotions and the website for Arts Month, as well as and a portion of Buntrock’s salary.
