By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Canceling a signature event is never easy, yet by the time the Black Swamp Arts Festival committee met on Tuesday to vote on it, it was a foregone decision.
The festival, scheduled for Sept.11-13 in downtown Bowling Green, would be canceled, or as the festival prefers to phrase it “postponed” until Sept.10-12, 2021.
The festival’s main attraction, bringing people together, is what made it impossible during a continuing coronavirus pandemic.
Jamie Sands, who chairs the committee of volunteers that produces the festival, said in an email: “When we asked ourselves if we could ensure the health and safety of our guests and volunteers, the answer was no. For us, that’s a no-go, no matter how much we love the Black Swamp Arts Festival.”
For Alex Hann, who a longtime member and former chair of the site and logistics committee, said that his mind was made up when he asked Health Commissioner Ben Batey if having people coming to Bowling Green from all over the country for the festival would make the city a coronavirus hot spot.
Batey said “yes,” Hann said.
“We didn’t want to be that festival,” Hann concluded.
Starting in March, the committee considered a number of options, said Deanna Vatan, who chairs site and logistics. Maybe it could be a hybrid festival with some online events and limited onsite activities.
Some were still hopeful that they would get more clarity about what the situation would be in late summer, said Amy Craft Ahrens, who chairs the concessions committee.
But as they study the needs of each area – youth arts, music, the art show – it was clear social distancing would be an impossibility.
“We could all see the writing on the wall,” Craft Ahrens said. The festival is all about bringing the community together. But during a pandemic that couldn’t happen. Not if they were going to keep patrons, artists, performers, and volunteers safe.
“What it really came down to is if we could as festival ensure the safety of guests vendors and artists,” Vatan said. “There was no way.”
All through the spring, site and logistics volunteers met with city and county officials. Bill Donnelly, immediate past president, attended county Emergency Management meetings.
Hann said the city was supportive throughout leaving the decision up to the festival committee. They want to do whatever they can to help downtown business. A study by the national marketing and research firm Womply this year found that festival weekend is the busiest for local business in terms of credit card transactions. The local businesses were already reeling from a year of torn up roads.
The festival costs $150,000 to stage, and the cancellation will cost it some money. Also, it’s grant from the Ohio Arts Council has been reduced because of state funding reductions.
“Pushing off the decision any further was also not an option,” Sands said. “The festival incurs significant expenses in the spring through summer.”
Some performers had already been booked, and a full slate of artists had committed to the juried art show, which this year was scheduled to begin on Friday night for the first time. Also, spaces in the Wood County Invitational were filling up.
Any fees paid by artists will be refunded.
None of the food vendors were surprised when informed of the decision, Craft Ahrens said. She said as a small business owner she feels for them.
They make their money at fairs and festivals, and none of that is happening this year, she said. “It’s devastating.”
Musicians and artists are also taking a hit.
The festival committee will continue to celebrate and support the arts, Sands said. Patrons should keep in touch through social media.
Vatan said by the end of Tuesday’s meeting the talk had shifted toward how they could recognize and celebrate the festival as they work to return in 2021 “stronger and better than ever.”
