REPORT TO PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Discuss Proposal to Include a "Mini Maker Vendor Exhibition" at the Art & Wine Festival in Kid's Kingdom Area
Report
BACKGROUND
The 2019 Art & Wine Festival is celebrating its 39th consecutive year. The Festival has incorporated new features over time to enhance the Festival and include or increase community participation as well as to provide additional activities for Festival guests. The idea of incorporating a "Mini Maker Vendor Exhibition" has been proposed to include Santa Clara youth and teen produced arts and crafts in Kids Kingdom for 2019. This Vendor Exhibition would function similar to adult arts vendors, but focus on including youth entrepreneurs. A youth business fair was recently held at Live Oak Park with a positive reception from community and Council.
DISCUSSION
A "Mini Maker Vendor Exhibition" could highlight youth talent as Santa Clara business persons, and create inspiration for other children and families at the Festival. A similar event occurred at Live Oak Park in October, 2018. The Children's Business Fair was managed by Kidzule, a Santa Clara based non-profit. The Fair aimed to teach children entrepreneur skills, including how to develop a solution, pitch and market a product. Forty-two children's businesses were featured at this inaugural four-hour event.
Currently, Art & Wine Festival vendors and exhibitors pay for booth space, tents, tables, chairs and power use at the Festival. The Festival is programmed to recover full cost. Wine, Beer and Glass and token booths raise funds for Santa Clara based non-profits, and Food Alley supports non-profits. If the "Mini Maker Vendor Exhibition area is incorporated into the Festival, any costs will require a revenue source. The Mini Maker space at Art & Wine proposes to host up to 24 exhibitors each day of the Festival, for a total of 48 vendors. Current projections put the cost for this program element at approximately $1,800...
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