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The 2024 Coconut Grove Arts Festival (CGAF), returning for its 60th year, Feb. 17-19, is painting a picture of success in the fine arts community. Key outcomes of its artist selection process in advance of the annual three-day event over Presidents’ Day weekend indicate that the beloved arts festival is emerging as one the most highly sought after shows in the nation.
The exhaustive evaluation process conducted by CGAF’s hand-selected professional jury panel came to a close Oct. 18, culminating in the selection of 285 top artists from around the world to be invited to exhibit at the 2024 festival.
What made the 2024 process most notable is the number of applicants desiring to be part of this successful show that draws tens of thousands of art lovers and spectators each year. According to CGAF Executive Director Camille Marchese, this year a record volume of 1,048 applicants eagerly competed for the limited number of spaces available – just 240 openings. When hired, Marchese was determined to concentrate on a more concise number of artists, which she explains, “allows for a finer quality of unique and innovative art to see, experience, and to acquire.”
In making the announcement, Marchese excitedly exclaimed, “We’re back! The Coconut Grove Arts Festival is once again among the top 10 outdoor art shows in the country!” She noted that the unprecedented number of applications received speaks volumes about the growing reputation of the festival. With such a large number of submittals, it represents a clear gauge of the success of this show and its standing in the nationwide arts community.
The Jury Has Spoken
Between Sept. 18 and 22, 2023, a “blind” jury comprised of five seasoned, independent judges – themselves being professional artists and educators, museum curators, gallery owners, and art festival producers – conducted a completely objective review of the works presented by a record number of 1,048 artist applicants.
Each submission was methodically evaluated and thoughtfully scored on a scale of 1 to 10. With such an overwhelming response, only those artists receiving a cumulative score of 7 or above made the cut. Forty-five award winning artists from 2023 will also be include. In the end, 285 artists spanning more than a dozen categories – mixed media 2D, mixed media 3D, clay, glass, jewelry, metal, painting, photography, sculpture, wood, watercolor, and printmaking will be a part of the 2024 festival.
The Plan is Paying Off
“Our intent was to raise the bar by reducing the number of exhibitors – a strategy that is working out well for everyone.” According to Marchese, the benefit of having such a significant number of extraordinary artists from which to choose is two-fold: higher quality art generates higher volumes of sales for the exhibitors; while, at the same time, it enhances the range of extraordinary art available for discerning collectors and patrons to consider and procure.
“With such a diversity of styles, textures, media, and colors to fill their senses, festival goers should expect that the art they see this year will be like nothing they’ve ever seen before.”
Marchese stated that the 2024 Arts Festival will be an amazing event overall, with interactive kids’ activities, a return of the Young Collectors Club, revised culinary experiences and live demonstrations.
“But from a purely arts-show management standpoint, our primary goal was to attract and showcase the best of the best artists in the country to Coconut Grove,” she said, “and we are now achieving that.” The success of Marchese’s strategy comes as a result of the strong relationships she has cultivated with artists all across the country during her three years with the CGAF.
“We are more than excited than ever – and so are the artists!” Marchese noted yet another sign of the growing appeal of the show is evidenced by the overwhelming number of the chosen artists who immediately confirmed their attendance upon receiving official notification of invitation.
“I want top collectors and art enthusiasts to understand and recognize the Coconut Grove Arts Festival is a highly curated show, one of the best,” Marchese concluded, “And, I also want the world to know that this amazing outdoor arts festival truly offers something for everyone.”
Art in our Future
Next on the Festival’s schedule will be the announcement of the names of the 10 jury-selected Florida International University students enrolled in the Art & Art History program who will receive a $3,000 scholarship for the 2024 academic year. This first-ever agreement between CGAF and FIU’s finest college-level students will also provide the opportunity for future artists to be mentored through the CGAF’s Emerging Artists Program. Today’s budding scholarship-winning artists will become our next generation of fine artists, as they are given the foundation they need to thrive in the art community.
About Coconut Grove Arts Festival
Spanning three days over Presidents’ Day weekend, the annual Coconut Grove Arts Festival remains as a premier art festival, celebrating the fine arts with live performances and local flavors.
As one of the largest art festivals in the United States, thousands of people gather each year along Coconut Grove’s waterfront streets to view the works of nearly 285 internationally known and jury-selected artists across 15 visual categories.
Produced by the nonprofit, 501(c)(3), Coconut Grove Arts & Historical Association, festival proceeds fund the Annual Scholarship Program and other education and outreach programs such as the New & Emerging Artists Program and the High School Mentoring Series. Year-round arts initiatives also include special exhibitions at the Mayfair in the Grove, Visiting Artists Week, and a partnership with the New World School of the Arts.
For information, visit the festival website at https://www.cgaf.com/.
