~ Thurs., Nov. 8, 2007 @ 6:30 p.m.
~ Sat., Nov. 10, 2007 @ 4:00 p.m.
~ Sun., Nov. 18, 2007 @ 4:30 p.m., and
~ Thur. (Thanksgiving Day), Nov. 22, 2007 @ 7:00 p.m.

Here’s hoping that you’ll spread the word and be inspired to support and be a part of our next Paint Off in early 2008!

Thanks, Mike & Alison!

Executive Director – Ithaca Festival

The Executive Director is responsible for directing the Ithaca Festival, an annual music and arts festival that celebrates community and the artist in everyone. The Ithaca Festival features the performances of over 1000 musicians, dancers, actors, storytellers, community groups and ensembles in 4 days of programming on the first weekend in June. It is one of the most unique festivals in the country, attracting an audience of over 45,000.

This year, the Festival runs from May 29th through June 1st. Components of Festival weekend include the Thursday night parade, the 2-day celebration of music on the Commons, and Sunday at Stewart Park. The 2008 Executive Director will also coordinate the Ithaca Festival Paint Off during early Winter 2008.

The Ithaca Festival Board of Directors is seeking an individual who can:

CREATE MAGIC – responsible for applying artistic and creative direction to the 4 days of festival programming

RAISE FUNDS – responsible for meeting – or exceeding – the funding requirements of the festival

MARKET PRODUCTS – responsible for merchandising festival product to meet funding requirements

COORDINATE VOLUNTEERS – responsible for recruiting, inspiring, training, and managing a large group of volunteers (and small group of staff)

MANAGE BUDGETS – responsible for preparing and staying within budget requirements

HANDLE LOGISTICS – responsible for all office activities, coordinating board and committee meetings, paying bills, meeting deadlines, plus making 4 days of programming happen!

WORK FLEXIBLY – responsible for near full-time commitment in spring, with more flexible part-time requirements remainder of year

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

1. Working closely with Board of Directors and Committees to:

– Set the vision and artistic direction of the festival by creating the festival theme concept and events to highlight theme – such as the Festival Artist, Festival Parade and Circus Eccentrithaca;

– Set – then meet or exceed – funding requirements through sponsorships, grants, and other fund-raising, such as the Festival Players Annual Fund, as well as product sales of Festival Gear, ad sales of the Festival Program, and other revenue generating activities;

– Set and manage budgets to maximize the organizations financial efficiencies with limited resources (current annual budget in approximately $120,000);

2. Being the public face of the Ithaca Festival by working closely with volunteers, community organizations, sponsors, the city and county, vendors, and the media;

3. Supervise volunteers, interns and festival staff

Desired Qualifications:

– Experience as administrator of non-profit festival or arts organization encompassing general office management, special events, marketing & public relations, grant writing, fund-raising, budget preparation, volunteer recruitment & management, database management, and web skills. Similar experience in other organizations considered

– Excellent written and oral communication, and creative problem solving skills

– Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and successfully meet deadlines

– Fluency with web site or blog site maintenance along with fluency in Mac-based applications, including Excel, Word, Filemaker Pro, and PageMaker. Graphic design experience helpful

– Flexibility to work a seasonally-variable part-time position – pretty much full-time in spring and various levels of part-time rest of the year

– Valid drivers license

– Oh, did we mention a great sense of humor and a thick skin?

To be considered for this position, send a letter and resume in pdf format by Oct. 29, 2007 to info@ithacafestival.org. If you are unable to create pdf versions of your cover letter and resume, please cut and paste same via e-mail to info@ithacafestival.org.

Full consideration will be given to applications received by October 29, 2007. Review of applications will begin the first week of November. Finalist interviews are expected in early November 2007 with the appointment of the 2008 Festival Director anticipated during the first week of December 2008.

Happily we’re smart enough not to believe our own press.  What we do know is that if others say we are first, we are first among many equals.  Living among some of the best festivals in the nation — Grassroots Festival, Musefest, Brewfest, Light in Winter, Finger Lakes International Dragon Boat Festival, Finger Lakes Environmental Film Festival and all the Ithaca Downtown Partnership festivals (Apple Harvest Festival, The Great Chili Cookoff, Holiday Parade of Ice) — we can only say “thanks.”

 Here’s what the Ithaca Times had to say:
“Not just downtown, but anywhere in the area! Take that, Grassroots! The music fest in T-burg may have been voted one of the ten best in the nation, but as far as Ithacans are concerned, our hometown festival celebrating local artists and musicians tops everything else. On the Commons, in Stewart Park, from the parade to the last band on the ballfield we know what it’s about.”

 I actually had some time to see some of the performances today (it’s rare that I have time to enjoy the music) and it confirmed to me that we have so much great talent in this town. Dancers, musicians, singers, poets, fine artists, crafters, street performers, food vendors, and more – it is without a doubt one of the most talented towns in the country.

The performances ended with Kevin Kinsella at the Bernie Milton Pavilion. The band put so much energy into their performance. I went to thank Kevin, who dripping with sweat told me that he wanted to do it again next year. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.

It made me realize that my real goal this year was to add energy to the Festival so that it can be what it is for the next 30 years. I can’t wait for tomorrow and Sunday to see more, more, more. See you there!

Vicki Kysar
Festival Director

Then the storm came. The challenge was then evacuating the parade route. No one wanted to leave. I didn’t want to leave. I was thinking about the amount of energy that goes into each and every entry, our staff planning, and the preparations of the city, it was hard to believe that it could be put to rest by a thunderstorm. But it is what it is.

We did however get the music going again at around 8pm. The Destination rocked Dewitt Park and the people in the crowd, who stuck it out through the weather, were dancing, singing and celebrating.

There are more storms in the forecast, but I realized that it doesn’t stop Ithacans, they just keep on truckin’. See you tomorrow!

Vicki Kysar
Director

The new parade route for the Ithaca Festival, May 31st at 6:30pm, will now take place down Cayuga Street from Lewis Street to Buffalo Street. The route had to change (twice for those who have read the previous announcement) so that we didn’t cross over Seneca Street. What it will allow for is no breaks in the parade to open streets for traffic. And, it gives us an opportunity to have our community block party in Dewitt Park.

We will be finishing the Parade with the party in Dewitt Park with the band The Destination. There will be food, music, and a plethora of community spirit! So if you are looking for a fun way to spend your evening after the Parade has gone by, please do join us in the park. Parade entrants are encouraged to hang their coats and stay for a while.

The staging for the parade will take place on Cayuga Street between Lewis and Lincoln utilizing Lewis and Jay Streets for additional space.

If you have concerns or questions about the new route, please let us know!
Cheerio!
Vicki

We would like to thank everyone who made the first annual Ithaca Festival Paint-off a huge success on Friday, March 30^th.  A very special thanks to the artists who created masterpieces in just 60 minutes:  Luis Alvarez, William Benson, Brody Parker Burroughs, Ryan Curtis, Jim DeGraff,  Aara Edwards, Monica Franciscus, Pamela Gilbert, Nerys Gregory, Jenny Kenkel, Ann Krajewski, Patrice Lemmon, Carlton Manzano, Ed Marion, Paul McMillan, Nari Mistry, Stephen Pink, Jay Potter, Peter Schlough, Mary Michael Shelley, Wendy Skinner, Allen Crittenden “Denny” Smith, Christi Sobel, Paul Speight, Adam Swanson, Carrie Varney, Dave Walczak, Kendra Wells, Lucretia West, Matthew Wheeler, and Carl Whittaker. Also thanks to the event judges: Erica Fowler-Decatur, Dede Hatch, Laurel Guy and Carol Mallison, and to our sponsor: Ithaca Bakery & Collegetown Bagels, to our event hosts Dave Vieser & Geoff Dunn of WHCU News Talk 870, Samite Mulondo, Kenny Broadwell, BSI Sound and our silent auction donors. And also thank you to those who attended the event to support the festival and artists!  You make the Ithaca Festival happen every year.  The paintings were raffled off at the end of the evening, but will be on display at the old Night & Day space on the Ithaca Commons (135 The Commons) up through the Festival.  We’ve also produced wall calendars featuring the art created that night.  You can choose from either a 12-month or a 15-month version of the calendar from the zazzle.com web site.  We will also be posting video of the event shortly.  William Benson was also announced as the 2007 30^th Anniversary Ithaca Festival Artist.  The Festival art will be unveiled on May 1^st.