Communications & Marketing Office: 2007 Citizen's Report

Hoggetowne Medieval Faire 2008

Cultural Affairs Division
Hoggetowne Medieval Faire

The Cultural Affairs Division promotes cultural activity in the City of Gainesville and Alachua County. The Division works cooperatively with the University of Florida, the School Board of Alachua County, the Gainesville Downtown Owners and Tenants Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the Alachua County Visitor and Convention Bureau, the Alachua County Library District and others to provide programs in response to identified needs. It advocates for the arts at the local and state levels and studies the impact of arts on the local economy.

2007 Highlights

Delivered another successful Downtown Festival & Art Show, North Central Florida's premier fall festival of the arts. The festival ranked No. 9 on AmericanStyle magazine's Top 10 Art Fairs and Festivals list, ranking among the best shows in the nation. The festival also ranked in the Top 30 for the second year in a row in Sunshine Artist magazine's "200 Best" list of fine art festivals in the nation.
Hosted the opening and exhibit of the 7th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition, "From Ogun's Forge: Art in Metal for the Orisha" at the Thomas Center Galleries, one of 14 Gainesville venues participating in the University of Florida's 14th Triennial Symposium on African Art.
Delighted attendees with another successful Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. The Faire photo was chosen for the front cover of The Real Yellow Pages Companion book.
Presented the Summer Cuts Film Series in partnership with UF's FLEX organization.
Released Arts & Economic Prosperity III, The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Culture Organizations and Their Audiences in Alachua County, Florida to the community. The report shows conclusively that the arts mean business in Alachua County -- generating $41 million in local economic activity as the 10th largest employer in Alachua County.

The Downtown Festival & Art Show, North Central Florida's premier fall festival of the arts, ranked among the top ten festivals in the nation by AmericanStyle magazine. The festival also ranked in the Top 30 for the second year in a row in Sunshine Artist magazine's "200 Best" list of fine art festivals in the nation.