By Outreach Coordinator Cilladean Hopkins
August 28rd, 2023 (Jackson, CA)— The Board of Directors of Amador County Arts Council (Amador Arts) has voted not to include Winefest among its fundraising activities. The decision was not made lightly due to the partnership between the City of Sutter Creek, its businesses, and Amador Arts, plus the long history of the event on Main Street.
Covering 3 blocks of Main Street Sutter Creek and featuring dozens of wine tastings, live performances, a huge art and wine auction, and much more, this event requires over 100 volunteers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, volunteerism has declined and can not support the necessary services and representation of the Amador Arts. “A future fundraising event in Sutter Creek remains possible,” says the Amador Arts President, Alyssa Vargas. Currently, a new strategic plan is being developed to define how Amador Arts can better provide arts and cultural experiences to the community in a way that reflects and amplifies our mission. Vargas continues “We will not allow this change to impact our commitment to arts education. We are building new and sustainable ways to fundraise so that we can bring even more arts education to all public school students in grades K through 12. Our ability to do this work is thanks to the many years of volunteerism that locals invested into the Winefest fundraiser. For that, we are forever grateful.”
The Amador Arts Board of Directors deeply appreciates the support received from the City of Sutter Creek, local businesses, volunteers, and donors that made the event successful for 25 years.
This year, Amador Arts will invest over $130,000 in arts education for all public school students and for creatives aged 5 and under. 77% of this funding is thanks to grants from the state of California. The remaining funding comes from Amador County Office of Education, Amador County Board of Supervisors, 3 Fish Studios, and individual donors. Every dollar donated makes us eligible for another dollar in grants. Your support means more arts and cultural experiences for the children and families of Amador County so that no one has to leave home in order to experience the joys of all kinds of art. To support Amador County Arts Council and our 300+ arts classes, visit our website at https://www.amadorarts.org/donate/ or contact us at (209)256-8166 and info@amadorarts.org.
Established in 1982, the Amador County Arts Council is a 501c3 non-profit organization devoted to advancing rural creative expression throughout Amador County. The Amador County Arts Council is the designated Local Arts Agency and State-Local Partner to the state of California and the California Arts Council, a state agency. Amador County Arts Council acts as a catalyst to sustain a culture of lifelong arts learning by providing hundreds of free art classes and professional support to rural creatives aged 0 to 26 and to the local creative economy at-large. Our services include intercultural advocacy, free online arts directory & calendar, and free grant-writing assistance for local artists and arts organizations. Find out more at amadorarts.org, email info@amadorarts.org, or text/call (209)256-8166.
CAPTION 1: Winefest was established in 1997 by the Board of Directors of Amador County Arts Council, a 501c3 partner to the state of California since 1982.