ABOUT WPSAF

  WPSAF is all about the art, but the board of 45 volunteer members is all about the festival.  It's a year-round activity to plan and run the show.  Monthly board meetings help keep everyone up-to-date, but the real work happens within the many committees that comprise the various work groups to run the show.

 Shortly after the festival, the new committees are chosen to begin planning for the next year's festival.  Applications go out in early August to assure that the artists have early notice to plan their spring calendars.

During September and October, approximately 1,400 completed applications are received by the Registration committee.  The applicants' slides and applications are identified, reviewed, organized into categories and processed into the tracking system.  A separate committee coordinates the emerging artists' applications.

Meanwhile, the Judges committee has carefully reviewed, contacted and selected the three judges for the festival.  There is always an emphasis on selecting judges who possess both diverse artistic backgrounds and geographic representation. *

In November, the judges come to Winter Park, Florida for screening of the applicants' slides.  This process is completed amazingly in one day.  The previous year best of show, Morse Museum Award and category place winners are automatically accepted into the show.

Now we have artists, so let's have a show.

Artists space planning is a coordination of their space request on their applications and the available spaces in the park.  Planning and coordinating this is a job in itself.

Arrangements for the performing artists are thoughtfully handled by the performing arts committee and our performing arts company.  It's always amazing to see the outstanding list of local and national (both amateur and professional) performing artists that are assembled for the three days of the festival. *

The student art exhibit is extremely popular and attracts local students from Winter Park and Orange County, Florida.  Each of the participating schools are contacted and various aspects of the exhibit coordinated.  This is one of the really fun parts of the show that demonstrates art is alive and constantly developing in the community.

The children's' workshop is hands-on for all committee members involved with planning, coordinating and running this inter-active, engaging part of the festival.  The smiles on the kids faces say it all.

Let's not forget about food and curly fries.  The coordination of this appeal to the sense of taste is carefully planned with various committees and our concessions vendor to bring just the right blend of availability, selection and fun.

You've got to buy the t-shirt to wear at the show and bring your poster home to remember the experience.  Selection of the local poster artist happened back in the fall and the images for the poster, t-shirts and various other items are reproduced by our merchandise vendor.  Merchandise is available for sale during the festival and year-round on this website.

You want to know who, what where and when at the show?  The publicity committee has been talking to you through local radio, television and print media for about a month before the show.  The draw of the festival, as well as the amazing things that go on during the festival are always headline feature news.

During the festival, free programs are available that describe all sorts of facts and information about this year's festival, the artists and our generous sponsors.  These programs are always something to savor, so take one home for your coffee table.

Need directions while in the park?  There are various committee members (identified with WPSAF name badges) and volunteers throughout the part during all hours of the festival.  Headquarters is information central and is the source for answers to all questions.  We utilize various communication tools (radios, cell-phones and foot steps) to respond to questions and needs of the festival participants.

Did we mention volunteers?  There are 200-300 volunteers each year that help out with virtually all aspects of the festival as it's getting setup and during all days of the show.  These folks are part of the heart and soul that bring our festival to you.  Most of the time, they are smiling  because they are having a blast.

So let's have some awards.  On Friday of the show, each judge visits each booth to review the artist's work.  They select pieces representing the artist's body of work for judging by placing a special ribbon on the work.  Our committee members coordinate and walk with each judge during this detailed process.  On Saturday morning, the artists bring their selected pieces to the judging area.  The judges carefully and thoughtfully review each piece (representing the body of work) and collaborate to reach consensus as to the various artwork for awards.

Awards are announced and ribbons for all pieces awarded are displayed in the artists booth next to their artwork.  The best of show is purchased by the WPSAF committee and after the show is donated to the City of Winter Park.  Currently, prior year best of show artwork is displayed in the Winter Park Public Library and is available for viewing.