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.
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.
For now, we are continuing to operate under the hope that Arts and Eats 2021 will take place as planned. Further decisions will be made on an ongoing basis as new information become available.
Our goal is to have the Maps and Guides ready for distribution in time for Memorial Day weekend. We are working closely with our printing company to meet that goal.
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.
