by Moses Leos III
After a ten-year stint on the greenbelt, the Buda Fine Arts Festival is packing up its easel, perhaps permanently.
The future of the renowned event, which drew aspiring artists from near and far, is in limbo.
Trey Hertel, president of the Buda Fine Arts Festival, said a lack of coordination led to the cancellation.
He said the festival committee had two months to plan the event. A whole year is necessary to properly put the event together.
“We just did not have enough time,” Hertel said.
A lack of support on the committee led to the organization’s decision to cancel this year’s event. Where once there were eight to ten people, the committee only had a handful of helpers this year.
That put event organizers in a bind.
“If you try to compress all we had to do in just two months, it becomes a full-time job,” Hertel said. “We do not get paid; we are only volunteers.”
Ultimately, the decision to cancel was done for the city’s sake. Hertel didn’t believe the festival committee could put together a quality product. He did not want to “half-ass the event.”
Earlier this year, the Fine Arts Festival applied for Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds from Buda. Organizers asked for $3,000; they received $2,500 last year.
“The Fine Arts Festival always used their money appropriately,” Lysa Gonzales, Buda tourism director, said.
Still, the sudden cancellation was a shock to the tourism department. Specifically, an email Gonzales received regarding the cancellation. It stated the festival was not to be held this year, “or any year in the future,”
The move leaves fans of the festival in limbo. Specifically, the business owners who benefitted from the crowd it drew.
Eileen Conley, owner of Memory Lane Antiques in Buda, knew how vital it was to her business.
She said the Fine Arts Festival was unique. It’s location helped drive up sales for many downtown businesses.
In addition, the festival placed a higher focus on the local art scene, which was “important” to Conley.
It also helped draw attention to many of the non-restaurants on Main Street.
Now, the festival that helped the local art scene may be on the way out.
Hertel apologized to the Fine Arts Festival faithful.
“We apologize to [festival goers]. The festival was a reflection of the city,” He said. “However, if we cannot put on a good festival, it is not fair to Buda.”
According to Hertel, organizers will assess the future of the festival after Jan. 1.
Conley believes placing focus on younger artists may help drive support. Instituting a “kids tent” at a future festival would be an asset.
“Folks will come out,” she said. “Parents will jump in and definitely volunteer.”
Yet, Conley will seek customers without the aid of the festival. A troubling thought, as the festival was a big reason for higher foot traffic in downtown.
“I will do what I normally do – draw traffic to my business. [Downtown businesses] need all the help we can get,” she said. “It is unfortunate they are leaving.”
