By Kathy L. Collins
The Eastern Hillsborough Art Guild (EHAG) will hold the 2014 Florida Strawberry Festival Fine Art Show from Thursday, February 27 to Sunday, March 9 at the Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds at 2107 W. Oak Ave. in Plant City. This art show has become a highly regarded one. After being judged last year over $3,500 was given out in prize money.
Part of the prize money comes from a classification of awards called the Business Leader’s Choice. Local businesses sponsor the awards. The cost is $75 of which $25 goes towards EHAG Scholarship Fund and $50 is given as a cash prize to the recipient of the Business Leader’s Choice Award. Each business is given the opportunity to send a representative to the Florida Strawberry Festival Fine Art Show and choose the piece of art to receive the cash award and a beautiful “Business Leader’s Choice” rosette ribbon.
Debra Bryant, a resident of Plant City and long time member of EHAG, is the Chairperson of the 2014 Florida Strawberry Festival Fine Art Show. Bryant said, “We have been very happy with the success of this award in the past few years and are really appreciative of our business leaders, who step up to support the arts and artists in our community.”
Bryant added, “As in previous years, both the business name and the chosen winner’s name will receive public recognition in all news media press releases distributed by EHAG. This will be displayed for the full 11 days of the Florida Strawberry Festival Fine Art Show.”
This year, the Strawberry Festival Fine Art Show will be exhibited in a new venue, the Milton E. Hull Building. Bryant said, “This new venue, with its more central location with the Florida Strawberry Festival grounds, will be a plus for artists and visitors alike. We are expecting greater participation from artists as a result and visitors will be able to locate the gallery more easily. All of this means greater exposure for our Business Leader’s Choice Sponsors. It’s going to be another exciting year.”
The Osprey Observer, a great supporter of local arts, has been a Business Leader’s Choice Sponsor for the last few years. Join other local businesses and support the arts. For more information, please contact Bryant at stfest artshow@gmail.com.
