For Participants

Welcome, 2021 Arts and Eats participants! This space is updated regularly to give you all the information you need in one convenient location. Check back monthly for new content going into Arts and Eats 2021.

Participant Newsletters

November Reminders

November 18, 2021
As we head into the holiday season, a couple reminders from the Arts and Eats team…
Holiday Specials
Running specials for the holidays? Tag us in your social media posts and we will help promote them! Arts and Eats promotion is year round, and we are happy to help our followers connect with you.
Survey
Did you take the participant survey? If not, please do so! This survey contains questions about your visitors, sales, and experiences during the tour. Responses help us improve the tour AND help us when applying for grant funding.
Take the Survey
Final Thoughts
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.
Thank you for being part of our 10th year!
The 2021 Arts and Eats Team
Post-Tour Email

October 20, 2021
We did it! The 10th annual Arts and Eats tour is complete.
Thank you for your dedication, your patience, your passion, and for sharing your tremendous talent with Southwest Michigan.
Materials
Passports
If completed paper passports were turned in at your site, please mail them to the Thornapple Arts Council at PO Box 36, Hastings, MI 49058.
Signs
If you do not intend to participate in Arts and Eats next year, please contact Megan to coordinate pickup. If you intend to participate again, please keep your signs for next year.
Other Info
Survey
The participant survey is ready! This survey contains questions about your visitors, sales, and experiences during the tour. Responses help us improve the tour AND help us when applying for grant funding.
Take the Survey
Final Thoughts
If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out.
Thank you for being part of our 10th year!
The 2021 Arts and Eats Team
Day Before

October 15, 2021
Tomorrow is the day!
Some reminders heading into the weekend…
Tour Details
Hours
Artist sites must be open at least 10am-5pm both days of the tour. Restaurant and farm sites, please ensure that your websites and social media pages list your current hours.
COVID-19 Safety
We support you in setting the parameters you deem necessary for safety. Remember that there are printable mask and capacity signs on the For Participants page.
App and Passports
Please invite visitors to download the app and complete the virtual passport. Passport data helps us when applying for grant funding.
Support
If you have questions or concerns this weekend, please reach out by phone to 269-945-2002 or email.
Final Thoughts
We will be in touch early next week to follow up on your weekend. Have a wonderful tour!
As we finish counting down to the 10th Annual Arts and Eats tour, we are excited to have you with us!
The 2021 Arts and Eats Team
October

October 11, 2021
Only five days until the tour! This will be our second-to-last communication before the event.
An important reminder as the tour weekend approaches…
Materials
If you haven’t picked up your maps and signs, check the July newsletter to find your pickup point before this weekend!
If you need extra maps, Kellogg Bird Sanctuary, Richland Area Community Center, and Root Cafe are all pickup points. Reach out to Megan ASAP if you need extra maps and cannot make it to a pickup point. The Arts and Eats team will not make material deliveries during the tour.
Questions? Concerns?
Review the participant newsletters for information on passports, the app, graphics for printing and posting, and more. Still have questions? Reach out to Kathleen.
As we finish counting down to the 10th Annual Arts and Eats tour, we are excited to have you with us!
The 2021 Arts and Eats Team
September

September 24, 2021
Fall is here, and the Arts and Eats tour is on its way!
Once a month from now until October, we will send you an email with information on your next steps, tips for getting ready for the event, and ideas for the weekend of the tour.
COVID Safety
Participant Sites
We invite our participant sites to institute what safety measures they deem necessary, and we support your right to refuse entry to guests that refuse to comply. Per current CDC guidelines, we recommend wearing masks indoors and requiring your guests to do the same. All five counties involved in the tour are areas of high transmission.
We have added printable signs and social media graphics on the For Participants page for you! Feel free to use these resources if you plan to require masks or limit capacity.
Central Venues
Kellogg Bird Sanctuary requires masks. Artists exhibiting at this site should be prepared to wear a mask for the entirety of their time in KBS buildings. Please be sure you have a mask and comply with KBS rules.
As of now, Richland Area Community Center is not requiring masks. RACC administration is monitoring the COVID-19 situation in West Michigan carefully and may reinstate mask requirements before the tour. Artists exhibiting at this site should be prepared to wear a mask if required.
New This Year
The Arts and Eats App
The Arts and Eats app is now live in both the App Store and Google Play! We are so excited to take this step forward with the tour, and we hope you will help us spread the word in the next few weeks.
Arts and Eats Weekend
How It Works
Arts and Eats weekend is October 16th and 17th! Artist sites will be open from 10am to 5pm. Restaurant and farm sites, make sure your current hours are listed on your website and social media pages!
Passports have gone virtual this year, but some sites have paper passports left from years past. If a completed passport is turned in at your site, it can be mailed to the Thornapple Arts Council at PO Box 36, Hastings, MI 49058.
Specials
Are you going to run specials or offer discounts during Arts and Eats weekend? Let us know! Tag us in your social media posts and we will help promote your offers.
Final Thoughts
Fall is officially here (and fall color is soon to follow!). As we continue counting down to the 10th Annual Arts and Eats Tour, we are excited to have you with us.
The 2021 Arts and Eats Team
August

August 6, 2021
We are halfway through summer, and the Arts and Eats tour is on its way!
Once a month from now until October, we will send you an email with information on your next steps, tips for getting ready for the event, and ideas for the weekend of the tour.
Coming Soon
The Arts and Eats App
The Arts and Eats team has been working on a project in secret that we’re now ready to share with our participants–a smartphone app! The app will function as a virtual map, letting visitors see information on the tour sites from anywhere, anytime. A draft of the app is currently being reviewed by a select group of participants before going to publication. Stay tuned for a fully-functioning app in September!
If you would like to participate in the app review, email Kathleen at info@artsandeats.org.
Passports
While taking the tour, visitors are encouraged to complete Arts and Eats passports for the chance to win prizes. Passports help us gather data about the tour like visitor demographics, location popularity, and which marketing efforts are proving most effective.
Virtual Passports
New this year–we are moving to virtual passports! Tour visitors will be able to complete their passports right in the app, reducing the amount of paper waste Arts and Eats generates and saving participants the hassle of distributing and collecting passports.
Have blank passports left from previous years? No worries! If you want to use them up, feel free to distribute them to visitors as usual. If you’d rather not bother, direct them to the app!
Passport Prizes
When visitors submit their passports, they are entered to win one of 5-10 prizes donated by our participants. If you would like to donate to the prize pool, email Kathleen at info@artsandeats.org.
Material Pickup
Don’t forget…
… to pick up your maps and/or signs! Refer to last month’s participant email for information on where your materials are waiting.
Final Thoughts
With summer winding down, fall will be here before we know it! As we continue counting down to the 10th Annual Arts and Eats Tour, we are excited to have you with us.
The 2021 Arts and Eats Team
July

July 9, 2021
Summer is here, and the Arts and Eats tour is on its way!
Once a month from now until October, we will send you an email with information on your next steps, tips for getting ready for the event, and ideas for the weekend of the tour.
Material Pickup
Maps and signs have been distributed to designated pickup points throughout the region. Please read the below information carefully to learn where your materials can be picked up.
Lakeshore Participants
Materials can be picked up at Root Café at 120 E Main Street in Fennville. Regular business hours are 10:00-6:00 Sunday-Wednesday and 10:00-8:00 Thursday-Saturday.
Plainwell Participants
Cathy Green of Cathy Green Pottery will deliver your materials.
Allegan County
For participants not at the Lakeshore or in Plainwell, materials can be picked up at the Allegan County Community Foundation at 112 Locust Street in Allegan. Regular business hours are 8:00-5:00 Monday-Friday.
Barry County
Materials can be picked up at the Barry Community Enrichment Center at 231 South Broadway in Hastings. Regular business hours are 8:00-5:00 Monday-Friday.
Calhoun County
Materials can be picked up at the Richland Area Community Center at 9400 E CD Ave in Richland. Regular business hours are 9:00-5:00 Monday-Friday.
Kalamazoo County
Materials can be picked up at the Richland Area Community Center at 9400 E CD Ave in Richland. Regular business hours are 9:00-5:00 Monday-Friday.
Van Buren County
For participants not at the Lakeshore or in Plainwell, materials can be picked up at the Allegan County Community Foundation at 112 Locust Street in Allegan. Regular business hours are 8:00-5:00 Monday-Friday.
Hosted Artists
Maps can be picked up at the Richland Area Community Center at 9400 E CD Ave in Richland. Regular business hours are 9:00-5:00 Monday-Friday. Maps for hosted artists are not labeled and can be taken from one of the boxes of loose maps.
What to Pick Up
Maps
Participating sites will each receive 25 maps to distribute and/or display as they see fit. Hosted artists can choose their desired number of maps. Extra maps have been left at each pickup site for participants that may want more.
Signs
Signs will be available for new participants at designated pickup sites. Each new site should take one large sign and two smaller directional signs. Please do not take signs from pickup sites unless you are a new participant. New hosted artists should not take signs.
Final Thoughts
With summer well underway, fall will be here before we know it! As we continue counting down to the 10th Annual Arts and Eats Tour, we are excited to have you with us.
The 2021 Arts and Eats Team
June

June 4, 2021
Spring is in the air, and the Arts and Eats tour is on its way!
Once a month from now until October, we will send you an email with information on your next steps, tips for getting ready for the event, and ideas for the weekend of the tour.
Participant Promotion
Additional Graphic Formats
At the suggestion of one of our participants, additional formats have been added to the promotional graphics on the For Participants page! This gives you the flexibility to download the formats you need for the digital platforms you use.
Spread the Word
Each year, tour visitors are invited to complete an Arts and Eats passport, collecting stamps from six different sites and telling us how they heard about the tour. Each year, more visitors say they heard about the tour through word of mouth than any other single way! That means that one of our best marketing tools for the tour is YOU. Invite your customers and friends–or your enemies, we’re not picky–and make sure you have some maps handy to show them what it’s all about.
Speaking of maps…
Map Status
The 2021 Map and Guide has been printed and picked up! With some of our regular participant pickup locations still closed to the public, we are working on a distribution and pickup plan that fits 2021. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!
Extra Info
Funding for Artists
Each year, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs offers minigrants designed to promote the advancement of arts and culture throughout the state. MCACA Professional or Organizational Development Minigrants provide up to $1500 to assist with opportunities that bring artists to another level artistically. Applications for 2021 are open through August 3rd.
Applications for MCACA Minigrants are submitted through and reviewed by regional regranting agencies throughout the state. Artists from Barry County can learn more here, Allegan County here, and Calhoun, Kalamazoo, and Van Buren Counties here.
Final Thoughts
Though summer hasn’t even officially begun, fall will be here before we know it! As we continue counting down to the 10th Annual Arts and Eats Tour, we are excited to have you with us.
The 2021 Arts and Eats Team
May

May 7, 2021
Spring is in the air, and the Arts and Eats tour is on its way!
Once a month from now until October, we will send you an email with information on your next steps, tips for getting ready for the event, and ideas for the weekend of the tour.
For Participants
Social Media Toolkit
While many of our participants are tech savvy, we understand that figuring out where to start with Arts and Eats promotion can be overwhelming. That’s why we have put together the Social Media Toolkit, a cheat sheet of tips and ideas for Facebook and Instagram promotion! In this toolkit, you will find sample posts and basic information on making the most of each social media platform.
Pre-Made Graphics
The For Participants page of our website has some new graphics waiting for you! Download the Arts and Eats logo or some pre-made social media graphics to help you with your tour promotion. Need something you can print? There are also printable posters in two sizes.
Have other ideas? Think we missed something? Let us know so we can keep the information flowing.
Map and Guide
Map Status
The 2021 Map and Guide is in its final editing stage and will be printed in the next two weeks! We will update participants as soon as pickup information is available.
Final Thoughts
This remains a strange time for us all, but we at Arts and Eats are hopeful that the worst is behind us. As current events continue to change and evolve, please reach out if you have questions or concerns.
As we continue counting down to the 10th Annual Arts and Eats Tour, we are excited to have you with us.
The 2021 Arts and Eats Team
April

April 5, 2021
Applications are closed, promotion has begun, and YOU are part of the 10th Annual Arts and Eats Backroads Tour! We are excited to have you with us.
Once a month from now until October, we will send you an email with information on your next steps, tips for getting ready for the event, and ideas for the weekend of the tour.
For Participants
Drop Date
The last date for participants to withdraw from the tour for a refund is April 12th. If the tour is cancelled due to public health concerns, all participants will receive a full refund.
For Participants
The For Participants page of our website is just for you! As the weeks go by, this page will be continually updated with copies of our monthly participant newsletters, graphics for social media promotion, frequently asked questions, and more.
Promotion
Sharing Posts
We aren’t possessive–we encourage you to share posts from the official Arts and Eats accounts! Whether it’s posts about your own business, a friend’s business, or just another site that looks good to you, we invite you to pass our participant promotional posts on to your followers.
Not sure how to share posts? Just ask!
Ads and Sponsorships
Arts and Eats is looking for sponsors and advertisers for our 2021 season! Limited sponsorship and ad space is available for businesses and organizations that resonate with the mission of Arts and Eats. Sponsors receive a full-color ad in both the printed and online Map and Guide, their logo on our sponsor page, individual thank-you posts on social media, and more. Learn more here.
COVID-19
Small Business Assistance
Arts and Eats is all about helping local small businesses succeed, so we are happy to be able to share resources as they come our way. If you come across opportunities for small businesses during this time of continued uncertainty, please pass them along.
Those of you operating as sole proprietorships may be eligible for the revamped Paycheck Protection Program! If you file an IRS Form 1040, Schedule C, we urge you to contact your bank to discuss your options.
Tour
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we anticipate this being a year of flexibility and adjustment as we adapt to the ever-changing situation in Southwest Michigan. While a 2021 tour is not assured, we have chosen to continue preparations in the hope that things will be better in the coming fall.
Contact Information
Contact Information
Arts and Eats is managed by the Thornapple Arts Council with support from arts-minded individuals.
Kathleen Welch
Marketing and Technology Coordinator
As the person most involved in the day-to-day preparation for Arts and Eats, Kathleen is the place to start if you have questions or concerns about the upcoming tour.
Megan Lavell
Executive Director
Megan handles sponsorships and ads for the Arts and Eats tour. If you or someone you know are interested in sponsoring or advertising on the tour, Megan is the place to go.
Final Thoughts
This remains a strange time for us all, but we at Arts and Eats are hopeful that the worst is behind us. As current events continue to change and evolve, please reach out if you have questions or concerns.
As we continue counting down to the 10th Annual Arts and Eats Tour, we are excited to have you with us.
The 2021 Arts and Eats Team

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the maps be ready?
Who should I contact about X?

Arts and Eats is managed by the Thornapple Arts Council with support from other arts-minded individuals.
Kathleen Welch
Marketing and Technology Coordinator, Thornapple Arts Council
As the person most involved in the day-to-day preparation for Arts and Eats, Kathleen is the place to start if you have questions or concerns about the upcoming tour.
Megan Lavell
Executive Director, Thornapple Arts Council
Megan handles sponsorships and ads for the Arts and Eats tour. If you or someone you know are interested in sponsoring or advertising on the tour, Megan is the place to go.

Social Media Toolkit | PDF Download

Logos

Without text | With text

Posters

8.5 x 11 PDF | PNG
18 x 24 PDF | PNG

Instagram Graphic

Download

Logos

Without text | With text

Posters

8.5 x 11 | 18 x 24

Instagram Graphic

Download

Facebook Covers*

Old style | New style

*In 2021, Facebook began offering the new Pages experience. The older version of Facebook displays your profile picture on the left, while the new experience displays your profile picture in the center. Choose the cover photo that works best with your current page layout.