Programs

  • United Maine Craftsmen Initiatives

    THE 2021 SEASON WAS A SUCCESSFUL ONE FOR THE UNITED MAINE CRAFTSMEN. WITH A GOOD SEASON IN 2019 AND HAVING ONLY VIRTUAL SHOWS IN 2020, THE 2021 SEASON WAS A TRANSITIONAL YEAR FOR US. OUR MEMBERSHIP DECREASED DUE TO RETIREMENT OF MEMBERS, MEMBERS FINDING OTHER AVENUES TO SELL THEIR PRODUCTS, I.E. THE INTERNET AND CO-OP STORES, AND MEMBERS STILL HAVING A FEAR OF THE PANDEMIC. SOME OF THE LOCATIONS OF THE SHOWS WERE THE SAME AS IN 2019. ONE OF THE EXCEPTIONS WAS THE FALL FESTIVAL. THIRTY DAYS PRIOR TO THAT EVENT, THE VENUE NOTIFIED US THAT THEY WERE NOT COMFORTABLE HOSTING OUR EVENT; THEREFORE, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND THE NEW LOCATION IN GORHAM. ANOTHER CHANGE WAS THAT THE BANGOR SHOW WAS CANCELLED DUE TO A CONFLICT AT THE VENUE AS WELL AS LOW VENDOR PARTICIPATION. THE THIRD CHANGE WAS THE LOCATION OF THE HOLIDAY SHOW. DUE TO CONSTRUCTION AND PARKING ISSUES AT USM, THE VENUE WAS CHANGED TO THE PORTLAND EXPO. THE CITY OF PORTLAND HAD A MANDATORY COVID VACCINATION PROOF POLICY, SO THAT MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN THE CUSTOMER ATTENDANCE NUMBERS. THERE WERE SEVERAL LAST-MINUTE CANCELLATIONS BY VENDORS FOR ALL SHOWS, AS THE PANDEMIC NUMBERS ROSE AGAIN. A SUMMARY OF ATTENDANCE IS AS FOLLOWS: AUGUSTA - 51 VENDORS, 1,383 ATTENDEES FALL FESTIVAL - 48 VENDORS, 796 ATTENDEES FLAHERTY FARMS - 60 VENDORS, 1,708 ATTENDEES HOLIDAY - 70 VENDORS, 1,453 ATTENDEES BREWER - 24 VENDORS, 1,171 ATTENDEES ALL CATEGORIES OF CRAFTS WERE REPRESENTED AT EACH SHOW BY AT LEAST ONE VENDOR. THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS TWO 300 ART SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY TO STUDENTS PURSUING A MAJOR AND CAREER IN A VISUAL ART.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2021 – Dec 31, 2021
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $44.2K