Events

A Season for CERF+

Galleries, artists, and online marketplaces work as a community to fundraise and conduct outreach for CERF+ nationwide between September and December. A Season for CERF+ is an opportunity for these businesses to draw attention to the importance of the individual craft artist who creates the work they sell and to an organization that is dedicated to helping ensure his or her success.

A Season for CERF+ participants decide how they would like to raise funds for CERF+, it can be as simple as writing a check or donating a percentage of sales to hosting a silent auction or conducting a raffle. All participants are asked to commit to contributing a minimum of $100 and we encourage the sharing of information about CERF+ with craft artists, customers, and the general public.

If you have questions about A Season for CERF+ contact Carrie Cleveland.

Ideas for A SEASON FOR CERF+

Need inspiration? Here are some wonderful projects from around the nation that you may want to consider as you plan your own event. See what feels like the right fit for you and your gallery. CERF+, craft artists and your customers will thank you!

Everyone Loves a Party!

Host a gallery party or reception to help build awareness about CERF+. Use the opportunity to auction or raffle off one or more pieces of work with proceeds going to CERF+. Be sure to check in with CERF+ to see if arrangements can be made to have a CERF+ trustee or recipient of CERF+ assistance speak at your event.

Honor a Craftsperson or Collector

Organize an event recognizing the work of a craftsperson, collector or community member important to the arts in your area. Celebrate the individual and their work while bringing in customers to your business. Combine the celebration with an auction, raffle or meal, a percent of which can go to support CERF+.

Offer a Chance to Win

For every $25 spent in your shop reward your customer with a chance to win a $100 gift certificate or craft object, the winner to be drawn at a planned event that supports CERF+. This not only encourages more purchases but increases attendance at your special open house or party.

Raffle

Raffle off one or more pieces during a special event or sell raffle tickets over a period of a few months. Consider doing the final drawing at a planned celebration tied to the winter holiday season.

Take it Outdoors!

Don’t wait for your customers to come inside. Get attention from a new, broader audience by setting up a working studio on the street. You might team up with a local nursery to showcase Art in the Garden or consider a Sidewalk Sale to help benefit CERF+ support for artists.

A Percentage for CERF+

Designate 10% on one particular day or 1% of one or more month(s) gross receipts to be donated to CERF+.

Silent Auction

Host a Silent Auction. It is sure to get customers in your gallery again and again as they check their bids.

“Seconds for CERF” or “Oldies but Goodies”

Do you have seconds or older work that hasn’t moved and is taking up valuable display space? Why not set up a special sale? Done year after year, we’re told that these sales become highly anticipated annual events.

The More the Merrier: Double, Triple your Efforts, Fun and Impact

Team up with other galleries in your town or city. Double, triple the ideas and energy while sending the message that your galleries share concern for craft artists who are trying to maintain their livelihoods and small businesses.

Theme Event

Plan a Season for CERF+ Tea Party where participants take home their cup or a Dessert Fest where the customer gets to take their plate! Have customers bring in broken jewelry and then combine their bits with others to make new pieces of wearable art. Organize a kiln firing or textile dying to bring attention to the creative process while at the same time lending support to craft artists in need.

Craft Workshop or Series

Offer a workshop or class series to educate, inspire and expand your customer base. Include in your registration fee a sum for CERF+.

Go Green: Re-gift for CERF+

Design a special event to sell donations of new or gently used, high quality craft pieces.

Anniversary or Opening Sale Event

Celebrating the opening of a new store or exhibition? Expanding your business or marking an important anniversary with a special sale date? Consider including CERF+ in plans that are already in the works.

CERF+ Charms

Request some of CERF+’s artist designed charms for sale and contribute the proceeds to CERF+ to support the emergency needs of craft artists. The charms are beautiful, and let’s face it, what could be easier?

Cash Donations

Several participants of A Season for CERF+ choose, instead, to make a cash donation to CERF+ because they are unable to host a specific event. This works too!