ArtQuest out of grasp for 2010

MARCO ISLAND — Marco’s “quest” for public art remains just out of reach for the Island’s business and art community for 2010.

ArtQuest, a bi-annual public sculpture project presented by the non-profit Marco Island Foundation for the Arts, in cooperation with the island business community, won’t happen as planned in 2010, members of the MIFA board announced.

At least a dozen sculptures were to be on exhibition at various business locations around the Island for the third biannual exhibition which would have run from November 2009 through June 2010.

Several corporate sponsors had already come forward to partner with MIFA to sponsor the sculptures. Although 10 business sponsors had stepped up, commitments from at least five more businesses were needed to break even on the event, ArtQuest organizers said.

“It was just more than we could do this year. It was a difficult decision,” said Carol Kinkead, vice president of MIFA and co-chair of the ArtQuest committee.

Kinkead said it’s more of a postponement than a cancellation. ArtQuest has the support of the community as well as national and international artists, and it will go on, she said.

“We learned a couple of the business sponsors had to back out. A few months ago, they thought they could do it. They felt terrible about it, but the economy got so bad they were afraid to spend the money,” said Jo-Ann Sanborn, co-chair of the ArtQuest committee.

“We work in conjunction with businesses. They are our partners in this and they’re so stressed already. It’s a difficult time. In this economy, it wouldn’t be fair to anyone,” Sanborn added.

Frank Delgato, of Summit Management, said the postponement won’t affect the Esplanade’s decision to continue their support.

“We’ve supported them in the past and we’ll support them in the future,” Delgato said.

The Esplanade is the biggest ArtQuest supporter, sponsoring six sculptures in previous years and five for 2010, Sanborn said.

The Marco Island Civic Association has also become a mainstay of ArtQuest.

“They get us the first check every year,” Sanborn said.

When a business sponsors an artist, at a cost of $1,500, the business then chooses their favorite sculpture to display for about nine months.

Sanborn said the nine-month exhibit schedule came after a nail-biting first year in 2006 as each hurricane or tropical storm was forecast.

It was more than just nervous businesses that led to the decision to halt the program this year, said Sandi Johnson, president of MIFA.

Artists’ ability to help pay for shipping and grant opportunities also dwindled as the economy busted.

Sanborn said the Community Foundation of Collier County offered a grant for the first two ArtQuests, but not the third.

“They told us it wouldn’t be available two years ago. It wasn’t a bad thing, wasn’t a surprise. They supported us twice and they’ve been wonderful to get us started,” Sanborn said.

However, the economy wasn’t on ArtQuest’s side this year to gain other grants for the arts and help the program spread its wings.

“We just thought it might be prudent to pull in our wings a little bit and wait for next year,” said Sandi Johnson, President of MIFA.

Johnson said grants are down this year for the arts, but there are some opportunities the Foundation is pursuing that may help fund ArtQuest in 2011. She said as the MIFA board approached their drop dead date of whether to go forward or delay the program, the funding was on edge and the board decided it would be too risky to go forward.

“It was just too close. It would give everyone angst,” Sanborn said.

In spite of the economic downturn, Sanborn said the program and the Foundation have had several successes.

Those successes include an increase in the artwork that can be seen in public spaces on Island, several other programs including the film festival and exhibits upcoming at the Esplanade as well as a stronger sense of community.

Sanborn recalled the sculpture named “Sway” outside of Rick’s Island Salon during a previous ArtQuest.

“It was a pole dancer. People loved it. People hated it. But people talked about it,” she said.

Sanborn said that opportunity to share art and share perspectives helps strengthen a sense of community, something ArtQuest and MIFA strives to continue doing.