The time for preparation is here for an annual fundraiser for Mount Airy Downtown Inc. (MAD).
With a second successful year of “fiddle crawl” fundraising efforts behind them, the group already has plans for a new twist to next year’s fundraiser: banjos.
For the past two years MAD has offered local artists the opportunity to turn a fiddle into a canvas. Both normal-sized fiddles and giant fiddles are auctioned off in October. The larger fiddles, which stand about 6 feet in height, are also placed on display at various locations around town for a period of about six months.
Over these two years, the fiddle crawl and auction has raised more than $45,000 for MAD. Main Street Coordinator Lizzie Morrison said the funds raised “directly support local artists, musicians and downtown revitalization initiatives for the downtown district.”
Morrison recently announced banjos will take the place of fiddles in this year’s Main Street fundraising effort. However, they aren’t just normal banjos. Each banjo sculpture will be about 7 feet tall. Morrison said the larger size is likely to attract attention.
“I wanted to go a bit larger this year with the banjos. They’ll be about a foot taller and an inch thicker than the fiddles. The larger scale will influence your reaction to the work. In general, larger sculptures tend to have a larger impact on the viewer’s experience,” explained Morrison.
According to Morrison, 21 local artists submitted designs for the upcoming banjo crawl, with submissions ranging from abstracts to landscapes, and some feature local products such as craft beers and wines.
In short, local residents or businesses can view the proposals of artists and opt to either purchase or sponsor a certain design. Morrison also stated anybody looking to purchase or sponsor a banjo should do so sooner rather than later, as that phase of the operation should wrap up in the beginning of February.
According to Morrison, there are three levels of sponsorships. A person or business can purchase a half-sponsorship for $750, a full sponsorship for $1,500 or sponsor and purchase the banjo for $3,000. With the purchase of a banjo, an individual or business can personalize the art piece or dedicate it to somebody.
Just as in years past, the banjos will be displayed in town, and eventually auctioned to the public.
Morrison said this year’s banjo reveal has been coordinated to coincide with Mount Airy’s Budbreak Wine and Craft Beer Festival. She said the reveal will take place on April 29, and the banjos will be on display for the first day of the festival.
Morrison expects the upcoming banjo crawl to be no different than the fiddle crawls of the two years prior, which she said have become a huge success in the community.
“We are very happy about the continued success of the Public Art Program, the many benefits it brings to the downtown district, and the community as a whole,” said Morrison.
Those interested in purchasing or sponsoring a banjo can contact Morrison at 401-0885 or coordinator@mountairydowntown.org.
