FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2015
Contact: Kerry Murphy 864.271.9398 (o) [email protected]
ARTISPHERE AWARDED TOP RANKING FESTIVAL BY USA TODAY
[Greenville, SC] The eleventh annual Artisphere, presented by TD Bank, promises to attract a record-breaking audience of all ages May 8-10 in Downtown Greenville.th 2015. After four weeks of voting by USA Today’s experts and readers, Artisphere snagged the #3 spot in USA Today’s 10BEST Art Festivals, beating out internationally renowned Festival of the Arts in Laguna Beach, California, and SOFA Expo in Chicago, Illinois.“We are humbled by this distinction,” says Kerry Murphy, Artisphere’s Executive Director, “and the 121 exhibiting artists this year represent some of the best across the country. Next year, our goal is to get to #1.”
Festival organizers also announced earlier their annual Art Fair Sourcebook industry ranking for the 2014 festival, which has jumped from 2013’s #10 ranking to #7 for the 10th annual festival last May. This is the third year in a row that the show made the Top 10 and the fourth time in the last five years. Greg Lawler’s Art Fair Sourcebook annually ranks the top 600 selling art shows across the country.
About Artisphere
Artisphere is a highlight of Greenville’s cultural calendar and a Top 10 Fine Arts festival. The event features a juried Visual Artist Row; Artists of the Upstate, a juried exhibition of local artists; Outdoor Stages with performances by local and national artists; hands-on Kidsphere children’s art activities; the Culinary Arts Café that highlights local restaurants; and Special Festival Art Projects that enliven the streets of Greenville with street musicians, acrobats, sidewalk artists, and more. Artisphere is attended by approximately 75,000 patrons annually and has an estimated economic impact of $5.5 million on the Greenville community. Artisphere is a 501(c) (3) not for profit organization. For information visit www.artisphere.us.
About TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®
TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 8 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at approximately 1,300 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth®, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.tdbank.com. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US.
TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol “TD”. To learn more, visit www.td.com.
Artisphere is presented by TD Bank.
Artists Row sponsor: GE
Art in Action Stage sponsors: Wells Fargo and Berkshire Hathaway C. Dan Joyner Realtors
Artists Demonstration Row sponsor: Michelin
Aerial Arts Amphitheatre sponsor: Trane
Bike Valet sponsor: Elliott Davis Decosimo
Culinary Arts Café Stage sponsor: RealOp Investments
Connoisseur Sponsors: Bon Secours St. Francis Health System, The Capital Corporation, Duke
Aficionado Sponsors: Engenius, iHEARTMedia, The Greenville Journal & TOWN, The Greenville News & TALK, Indexx, The Peace Center for the Performing Arts, WYFF-4, and ZWO
Kidsphere sponsor: ScanSource
Greenville County High School Juried Exhibition sponsor: Current Tools
Local Performing Arts Showcase sponsor: The Fred Collins Foundation
Mayor’s Choice Award sponsor: Haynsworth, Sinkler, Boyd, P.A.
Opening Night Gala sponsors: Coldwell Banker Caine, Rick Erwin’s Nantucket Seafood, and Synnex
People’s Choice Award sponsor: Cherry Bekaert
Silent Auction Gallery sponsor: Courtyard Marriott Downtown, Hampton Inn & Suites Riverplace, Windsor Aughtry
STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts & Mathematics) Exhibit sponsor: Clemson University
“Sneak Peak” Commemorative Poster Unveil Reception sponsor: TALK Magazine
The Artists of the Upstate Juried Exhibition sponsor: Greenville Health System and Greenville Journal
The Main Stage and Artisphere After Hours sponsor: WYFF-4
VIP Hospitality sponsor: McKinney Dodge Ram Chrysler Jeep and Rick Erwin’s West End Grille
Wine and Craft Beer Experience sponsor: SunTrust Bank
Artisphere is funded by grants from The City of Greenville, Greenville County, Fred Collins Foundation, Joan S. and Charles W. Coker Foundation, Daniel-Mickel Foundation, Graham Foundation, Jolley Foundation, Metropolitan Arts Council, Jean T. and Heyward G. Pelham Foundation, and South Carolina Arts Commission
Artisphere Benefactors: Aerodyne Alloys, LLC, Tammy & Jerry Barber, BNC Bank, C-III Capital Partners, Clemson University, First Citizens Bank, Margaret & Earle Hungerford, Shannon Caldwell Kubu, Scott & Beth McMillan, Rachelle & Charlie Mickel, The Jean T. & Heyward G. Pelham Foundation, The Priester Foundation, Felicia Collins Robbins, Minor & Hal Shaw, The David & Mary Swain Charitable Fund, McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture.
Artisphere’s Chairman’s Circle: Connie & Lee Bryan, Cathy & Brad Campbell, Eastern Trading Co, Mr. & Mrs. Nathan A. Einstein, Anne & Ted Ellefson, Col. & Mrs. Frank C. Foster, Helen & Al Hagood, Jean & Peter Helwing, Chelle & John Kelaher, Chicken & Hurdle Lea, Nancy & Erwin Maddrey, Martha & Smyth McKissick, Kathryn & Ben Norwood, Park Sterling Bank, Sidney Pearce, Piedmont Arthritis Clinic, Susan & Tim Reed, Susan & Michael Riordan, Greg Rudell, The Spinx Company, Carl Stecker, Melissa & Bryson Thomason, Sunnie & DeWorken, The Westin Poinsett.
Collector Sponsors: Ben Arnold Beverage, Co., BlueCross BlueShield of SC, BMW Manufacturing Co, BNC Bank, Brown Mackie College, Budweiser of Greenville, Canal Insurance, Crawford Strategy, Entegra, Fete, Furman University, Godsey & Gibb Wealth Management, Henry & Jamie Horowitz, The Hughes Agency, Larkin’s on the River, Page 1 Branding, Pepsi, Roylco, Table 301 Restaurant Group, Tower East Apartments, TPM, United Community Bank, Windstream Communications, and World Acceptance CorporationEnergy, Gallivan White & Boyd P.A., Garfield Signs and Graphics, Metromont, Professional Party Rentals, Triangle Construction, Whole Foods Market, Yeargin Potter Shackelford and WYNIT
Friends of Artisphere: Dr. & Mrs. Jerry Acosta, Todd Baldree, Sarah & Henry Barton, David L. Beard, Debbie & Mike Bell, Claire & Joe Blake, Patti & Roger Brooks, CeCe & Lance Burnett, Mignon & Phil Canale, Peggy & Craig Carver, Community Foundation of Greenville, Judy Cromwell, Beth & Scott Daniel, Angi & Howard Einstein, Eva Marie & Tom Fox, Lynn & Jim Gilreath, Sharon & Norman Glickman, Harriet & Andy Goldsmith, Courtney & Sean Hartness, Virginia & Chris Hayes, Jackie D. Highley, Anna Kate & Hayne Hipp, Allan Liska, Maserati Lotus Greenville, Anne & Bill Masters, Garland & Fleming Mattox, MetalChem Inc, Clark Mickel, Mr. & Mrs. Norville, Dorianne & Drew Norwood, The Palmetto Bank, Suzanne & Trip Renfro, Kristen & Tim Rooke, Ann & Porter Rose, Caroline & Joe Ryan, Dr. & Mrs. Matthew Smith, McCallum Sweeney Consulting, Sandy & Jim Terry, Marsha & Knox White, Nancy & Jeff Whitworth, 10-X Group
