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The Festivals attracted a number of

people to the core who otherwise may


not have bothered

“We were pleasantly surprised. The


feedback we got, we heard it over and
over, why can’t we do this every
weekend” - Chris Edwards

These Festivals were meant to attract


a more mature crowd

“We wanted people to realize that our


downtown is safe, it’s clean, it’s friendly,
and it has a lot of great restaurants and it
has a lot to offer for people” - Chris
Edwards
The Challenges
• Negative bar town image of downtown by
Windsorites, safety concerns
• Perception that downtown is geared for tourists,
not Windsorites
• Tourism slowdown due to Passports, strong dollar,
gas prices, Detroit casinos competition, border
backups etc.
• Lack of retail (“people-retail-people”)
• Eastward shift towards Festival Plaza/Casino
The Opportunity:
Nowhere to go but UP!

• Give Windsorites and tourists a reason to come


downtown, often!
• Boost downtown since the riverfront is home to the
Odette Sculpture Garden, Dieppe Gardens, Assumption
Park, The Canadian Vietnam War Memorial
• Encourage people to walk around
• Create an “informal” western super anchor
• Build on existing festivals, Farmers’ market
• Promote a close “ foreign staycation”
Objectives:
GENERATE BUSINESS FOR THE DOWNTOWN CORE

• Give people a reason to come downtown, often


• Bring Windsorites back to downtown
• Attract more visitors to Windsor and especially to the downtown
• Build on our entertainment image but erase our reputation of
being just a “Sin City”
• Revitalize the downtown into a place where people want to
spend more time, money
• Make downtown a place for families
• Shine a light on one of Windsor’s most attractive sights that is
under utilized: Windsor riverfront
• Create traffic movement westward to the core.
VICTORIA DAY TO LABOUR DAY
(Every Saturday, Sunday and holiday Mondays
from May 22- September 6, 2010)
CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS IN
WINDSOR THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER

•Visual Art/Sculpture display along the


riverfront with items available for sale
•Roaming entertainers (buskers, magicians, jugglers,
musicians, drama etc)

•Open-air stage Eg. Motown


OTHER AREA ART EVENTS
“Art Festivals have become the modern day
equivalent of county fairs. Along with the art booths
there's entertainment, food and special activities for
kids” - Elana Centor

• Art in the Park


• Art by the River
• Art & Soul
• Culture on Queen
• Various US art shows
Provide the Continuity for other Downtown Events
throughout the summer

• Bluesfest
• Festival Epicure
• Red Bull
• Emancipation Day
• Pride
• Carousel of Nations
• Buskerfest/Fringe Festival
• Fireworks Display and Summerfest
• WSO concert series
provides every weekend:
• a variety of arts/entertainment from local visual and
performing artists displaying their talents in designated
areas throughout the riverfront area
• enjoyment for all ages (family-friendly)
• a way for downtown businesses to promote themselves to
tourists and Windsorites
• a way to bring people to the downtown, often
• income for local talent
• Complimentary additions to existing festive atmospheres
• Co-operative interactions with other festivals, events and
businesses
Event Window

• Summer months (Victoria Day - Labour Day)


• Weekends (Saturday, Sunday and holiday
Monday from May-September)
• Time
-11 am-5 pm – for visual artists
-3 pm-9 pm – this is considered prime
time for performers
Positive Factors 

• Boosts morale and wellbeing of citizens


from all walks of life
• Helps promote economic growth in
downtown Windsor and spiraling out
• Showcases Windsor’s artistic and cultural
diversity
• Brings families to the downtown core
• Presents Windsor in a positive light
“Spiral Effect”
• This occurs when people are drawn to a
central location and then begin to spiral
out.
• In economic terms this means people will
be drawn to downtown (specifically the
riverfront) and then will expand out
towards other areas of the downtown and
the city.
Types of performing artists

• Bill N. (variety performer), Wayne T. (magician),


Trixie (clown/musician), Sailor Sue (face
painter/balloon artist)
• Acoustic/folk musicians, Windsor Symphony,
fiddlers, drum circles, Native musicians/displays,
cultural musicians, medieval, dj/electronic, etc
• Belly dancers, poi spinners, gymnastics,
skippers, cultural dancers, acrobats, puppet
show, slam poetry, breakdancers, etc
Performers
Types of visual artists

• Paintings, sculptures, crafts, pottery,


candle makers, fine art, prints, fashion
and accessories, artisans, face painting,
air brush painting, temporary tattoo and
henna artists, cultural art, etc
• Car show/display (Canadian
Transportation Museum)
• *all art is juried
Coupon incentives

• Information booth where patrons can


pick-up various coupons and discounts
from area businesses.
• This will aid in the spiral effect
• This will boost economic growth
• Businesses can include restaurants,
retailers and services (hair salons, cinema,
museums, etc)
Promotion
• Print media (flyers, brochures, print ads)
• Visual media (television, Youtube)
• Electronic media (blogs, Facebook, Twitter,
Myspace, Kijiji, forums)
• Booth space at festivals and tradeshows
• Talent displays at malls, galleries, etc
• Networking with artists’ mailing lists
• Radio (ads and appearances on shows, IE.
musicians)
Funding
• Grants (local, provincial, federal, Trillium)
• Corporate sponsorships (various levels according
to contribution)
• Charity sponsorship/volunteers
• Private sponsorships
• Donations
• Booth space
• Fundraising initiatives (Dinners, Shows, Dances,
Bingos, etc)
• bring you business
• be the stage to showcase the fantastic
arts community in Windsor
• bring energy and excitement to the
downtown core
• grow to become a welcomed annual event
Next Steps

• Your preliminary approval to move


forward
• Create a detailed plan of action
• Seek your final OK
• Seek approval from the City
• Get going!!

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