We are excited to share the news that the 42nd Annual Mount Dora Arts Festival ranked #7 for Best Fine Art Show in the nation!

Every February, Mount Dora Center for the Arts (a 501 (c)3, non-profit) produces the Annual Mount Dora Arts Festival. This year, placing in the Sunshine Artist's 200 Best, top 10 for the first time! Ranking #7, the Mount Dora Arts Festival out performed other largely known arts festivals, such as Naples National Arts Festival, Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival, St. James Court Art Show, and more! 

"Making it on the 200 Best List is one of the highest honors a show can earn in the industry. Making it into the top 20 is indicative of a solid, well-attended and high-earning show."
Stephanie Hintz, Sunshine Artist Editor 

The criteria to win this award, are from the artists themselves. The artists, who casts their votes, showcased in arts and crafts shows around the United States. Each artist votes up to 10 (ten) ballots of shows where they profited the most revenue from. Sunshine Artist then tallies up the points, based on the sales range. After all the ballots are received, Sunshine Artist editorial staff tallies the points earned for each show, giving the ranking spot. 

In the last two years, Mount Dora Center for the Arts, started sending post festival, electronic surveys, to all artists who have attended the festival for their anonymous feedback. By collecting the data and analyzing it, helps determine the festival's strengths and weaknesses. This past February, 74% of the 285 artists, made $2,000 or more in sales from the festival. Rating us very close to above average, due to great attendance, sales higher than expected, and/or knowledgeable people buying art. 

Last year in 2016, the show dipped in the ranks, placing 72nd and hasn't been ranked this low since 2012. Why for the sudden drop? We speculate that when the artists went to fill-out the Sunshine Artist survey ballots, a lot of them were confused between the Mount Dora Craft Fair (in October) and the Mount Dora Arts Festival (in February). Not realizing the difference between the two festivals and rated us based on the Craft Fair, just a few months before the Mount Dora Arts Festival.  However, the Mount Dora Center for the Arts is not affiliated nor produces the Mount Dora Craft Fair. 

What made us #7 this year? A new marketing strategy and better branding.

"After dropping to 72nd in 2016, we knew something had to be changed. We looked at the demographics that attended the festival and used a more diversified marketing approach, by targeting those individuals." Kristina Rosenburg, Marketing Director. "We also launched a brand new website this past year, geared specifically for our arts festival. This helped strengthen our brand and differentiate ourselves from other known art shows."

We would like to thank everyone who have helped us for a successful festival year! From the Mount Dora Center for the Arts staff, board members, volunteers, and of course the artists who rated us! We could not have done it without all of you! Look forward to another great year in 2018! 

The deadline for applying to the 43rd Annual Mount Dora Arts Festival is October 16, 2017. Apply now!