This disappointing but not surprising news just came through from the News Journal:
After 48 years of tradition, there will be no Brandywine Arts Festival this weekend.
With the third proposed venue for the festival announced last week, organizers could not get enough commitments from artists to go through with the festival at its most recent possible site in Hockessin.
“It’s a sad, sad shame,” festival executive director Janie Blanch said about the cancellation, announced this morning. “After the third change, they were done.”
Nice one, Ms. Blanch, making it seem like it’s all the artists’ fault. Of course, if it’s the artists’ fault instead of horrible mismanagement of the festival, this statement doesn’t sound that outrageous:
Blanch said she cannot refund all the artists and craftmakers who spent up to $360 a space at the festival.
“That is impossible to do. We spent money on advertising and all this other stuff you spend money on like the Web site,” she said. “I’m going to get in touch with a lawyer and find out what I do next.”
What a shame. I hope that the artists can get their money back and that someone can save the Brandywine Arts Festival for the future.