Welcome, Handcrafted Marketing Solutions!

Aug 2, 2021 | News

Venice MainStreet is delighted to welcome Ashley Gibson and Handcrafted Marketing Solutions as a new Business Partner! Ashley started a business in 2016 using just social media as her main resource for marketing. She recognized that it was growing her business quickly and at an affordable cost. After participating in many training courses, she learned the most effective ways to engage her target audience. Ashley believes that through proper branding and social media marketing, the sky is the limit for any business. She works with a team of dedicated, professional digital marketers with over 25 years of experience in the digital marketing business. Let Ashley help you with services such as local search engine optimization, Google MyBusiness listings and Google Reviews, website design, social media marketing, and story branding.

For an appointment, call 941-999-0105 or email ashley@handcraftedmarketing.org.

FantaSea Venice

Jul 26, 2021 | News

By Venice Art Center

FantaSea Venice is a public arts project in which the Venice Art Center partnered with FantaSea Venice Sponsors and FantaSea Artists to create unique designs for 22 fiberglass mermaids and 30 fiberglass seahorses. These one-of-a-kind sculptures will be adorned by the most talented artists in our region. The Venice Art Center matched sponsors to artists and a plaque will be placed at the base of each sculpture to indicate the name of the sponsor, artist, and the sculpture’s individual name. The sculptures will appear in approved locations around Venice, Florida on city streets, parks, lobbies, businesses, etc. until April of 2023. There will also be multiple public activities, fundraisers, and entertaining events associated with this project.

FantaSea Venice will be the third public art display of this nature that the Venice Art Center has produced. These events are modeled after “Cows on Parade,” which occurred in Chicago in 1999. Hundreds of cities followed suit with similar campaigns, and each experienced an increase in tourism, individual business revenue, and community participation.

The 2004-2005 “Pigs in Paradise” and the 2012-14 “Sea Venice” public arts projects were a large success and accomplished all these goals. The Venice Art Center will utilize this successful experience coupled with new and innovative ideas to make FantaSea Venice an even greater success. FantaSea proceeds benefit the Venice Art Center in support of its programs, the arts, and tourism for the community of Venice, Florida, and our local artists.

To learn more about VAC classes, exhibitions and events visit VeniceArtCenter.com. To learn more about FantaSea Venice go to FantaSeaVenice.com.

VidaCann joins Venice MainStreet

Jul 22, 2021 | News

Welcome VidaCann! VidaCann is one of the largest and most advanced providers of medical cannabis in Florida. Its mission is to “help our Florida friends and neighbors live their healthiest lives with the help of our all-natural cannabis products.” Visit their locations in Bradenton and Port Charlotte, which serve Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte counties. For more information, call 941-883-2107 or visit them online at vidacann.com.

Flamingo Duo joins Venice MainStreet

Jul 14, 2021 | News

We are so happy to welcome Teresa and Katie of Flamingo Duo as a Business Partner! Flamingo Duo offers Ring Bomb Parties, surprise jewelry reveals, live shows on Facebook and more. Their original custom jewelry includes women’s necklaces, earrings and rings, as well as men’s rings. Contact Teresa and Katie today at flamingoduorbp@gmail.com, flamingoduo.bombparty.com, and follow them on Facebook @FlamingoDuorbp.

Photo credit: Flamingoduo.bombparty.com

Nest Venice joins Venice MainStreet

Jul 8, 2021 | News

We are so happy to welcome Nest Venice as a Venice MainStreet Partner. This colorful, eclectic downtown Venice boutique is a unique mix of clothing, home goods, and curated gifts from around the globe. Nest Venice supports fair trade by purchasing many handmade items. Shop a wide selection of global items such as block printed clothing, hand sewn and hand woven accessories, journals, incense, ceramic pieces, hand woven African baskets and hats, candles, Kantha quilts, and much more. Nest Venice is another great reason to head downtown and stroll beautiful Miami Avenue West.

Nest Venice
223A Miami Ave. West
Venice, FL 34285
941-244-4471
Follow on Facebook

Photo credit: Nest Venice

TOPS joins Venice MainStreet

Jul 1, 2021 | News

Venice MainStreet is delighted to welcome TOPS Chapter FL60 as a partner! TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) provides information and support to those who want to lose weight. TOPS Club, Inc. is a nonprofit, noncommercial network of weight-loss support groups and wellness education organization. TOPS offers tools and programs for healthy living and weight management, with exceptional group fellowship and recognition. Established in 1948 to champion weight-loss support and success, the organization has helped millions of people live healthier lives.

Weekly meetings include private weigh-ins and professionally prepared, informational chapter programs, featuring up-to-date information on nutrition, exercise and healthy lifestyles. Programs provide positive reinforcement and motivation to adhere to food and exercise programs.

TOPS Chapter FL60 meets at the First Christian Church, 1100 Center Road, Venice, Florida 34292. To find out more how TOPS works, CLICK HERE.

The Patterson Foundation Offers Local Nonprofits Strategic Decision-Making Consulting Sessions

Jun 22, 2021 | News

The Patterson Foundation has selected five regional nonprofit organizations to receive five weeks of 1:1 consulting through their participation in Advancing Mission Thrivability. Through this opportunity, these nonprofits will learn about strategic approaches to making mission-focused, economically informed decisions for their programs, products, and services.

Nonprofits make difficult decisions daily regarding operations, staffing, service delivery, financial management and more that ultimately impact the communities they serve. The Patterson Foundation created the Advancing Mission Thrivability opportunity to strengthen nonprofits by sharing mission-centric, economically informed approaches to decision-making that will guide them in increasing their effectiveness while becoming an even greater asset to the communities they serve.

“Through Advancing Mission Thrivability, The Patterson Foundation is providing regional nonprofits with keen insight and proven methods on making sound decisions in today’s rapidly evolving environment,” said Debra Jacobs, president and CEO of The Patterson Foundation. “The organizations selected have already demonstrated their desire to be excellent. We look forward to learning how they benefit from the consulting sessions with No Margin, No Mission.”

Dozens of regional nonprofit organizations have participated in online learning sessions through Advancing Mission Thrivability. These courses were presented by No Margin, No Mission — a national consulting practice and social enterprise. During each session, nonprofits learned how to strengthen their organizations by making decisions aligned with their mission focus and economic considerations.

Following the completion of four of these online sessions, several participating organizations committed to embracing this decision-making approach are given the opportunity to apply for an additional learning opportunity. The Patterson Foundation has engaged No Margin, No Mission to provide 1:1 consulting to five more nonprofits over the next five weeks, in which the organizations will examine decisions for their own specific programs.

The organizations participating in this extended consulting opportunity include:
Lemur Conservation Foundation
Military Heritage Museum
Multicultural Health Institute
Samaritan Counseling Services of the Gulf Coast
Venice MainStreet

Organizations with an active profile on The Giving Partner are eligible to participate in Advancing Mission Thrivability. The Giving Partner, formed by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, is a database that connects prospective donors with more than 700 nonprofits in Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties. Grantmakers and other donors use the directory as a trusted resource to inform their giving.

Advancing Mission Thrivability is part of The Patterson Foundation’s Nonprofit Thrivability initiative. This initiative connects nonprofits with expertise and resources to learn concepts like strategic decision-making while adopting and implementing entrepreneurial principles to generate enough revenue to support and eventually grow their operations.

To learn more about Advancing Mission Thrivability, visit thepattersonfoundation.org/advancing-mission-thrivability.

About The Patterson Foundation
The Patterson Foundation strengthens the efforts of people, organizations, and communities. The Foundation focuses on issues that address common aspirations and foster wide participation, along with ways organizations learn and share as they evolve. For more information, please visit thepattersonfoundation.org and connect with @ThePattersonFdn on Twitter.

Call to Artists: Positivity Tags Public Art Project

Jun 22, 2021 | News

Positivity Tags Public Art Project
The Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, Venice Art Center and Venice MainStreet in collaboration with Sarasota County, The City of Venice and Gulf Coast Community Foundation invite you to apply. Click here for a printable version

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL:
Public arts project

Proposal Due Date: June 30, 2021
Proposed Completion Date for Installation: August 2021-September 2021

Contents
1. Summary and Background
2. Proposal Guidelines
3. Project Description and Scope
4. Budget
5. Proposal Format

1. Summary and Background: The Venice Area Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Venice MainStreet and the Venice Art Center invite artist to propose ideas inspired by on the messages and ideas from the Venice Positivity Walls and its tags. The Walls were spread out in Venice over the last year. The Positivity walls were collaboration between the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, Venice MainStreet, Venice Art Center, Sarasota County, the City of Venice and Gulf Coast Community Foundation. All ideas on the second phase of this project and media are welcome. It can incorporate the use of the collected tags or the messages on the tags. There are thousands of tags which are available to see by appointment at the Venice art Center. Call 941-485-7136 for an appointment to come and view.

The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit proposals from various candidate artists, conduct a fair and extensive evaluation based on criteria listed, and select the candidate who best addresses the goals of the project. We request competitive proposals.

2. Proposal Guidelines: This Request for Proposal represents the requirements for an open and competitive process. Proposals will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. ET June 30, 2021. All proposals must be signed by an official agent or representative of the company submitting the proposal. Contract terms and conditions will be negotiated upon selection of the winning bidder for this RFP. All contractual terms and conditions will be subject to review and will include scope, budget, schedule, and any other related items to project completion.

3. Project Description and Scope: The Venice Area Chamber of Commerce will assume and retain ownership over the finished project piece. The copyright of the artwork remains with the artist and the artist remains the owner of all the sketches, drawings, designs created in the course of creating the sculpture; however the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce retains the right to reproduce the any associated materials as needed throughout the life of the sculpture. The Venice Area Chamber of Commerce maintains the right to remove the sculpture and dispose of it in the future if necessary due to wear, garden expansion, or another reason.

4. Budget: The proposed project budget for design, materials, production, and installation is not yet set. We are open for artist to submit based on the project they wish to do. Proposals should include a detailed budget with all associated project expenses. All costs must be itemized and include an explanation of fees.

5. Proposal Format: Respondents are asked to include the following information in their response:
A. Overview of the proposed project
B. A brief executive summary of the artist’s qualifications in the area of similar types of work in scale and scope.
C. The name, telephone number, and email address of the primary contact for the submitter.
D. Biography and resume
E. History and philosophy of the artist process and examples of outdoor art installations.
F. List experience with outdoor public art installations and include photos and descriptions of past projects.
G. Show 3-5 examples of your work
H. Provide three references for similar projects including contact name, phone number and email.

Disclaimer:
By responding to this RFP, prospective artist acknowledges an understanding of the following:
This RFP is not a commitment to enter a contract. No prospective artist has a contract with the Venice Area Chamber of Commerce until such time that the parties sign a written contract for services. The Venice Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Venice MainStreet and the Venice Art Center has the sole discretion for evaluating prospective artists’ proposals, and it is not obligated to respond in any way. The Venice Area Chamber of Commerce reserves the right to terminate the contract at any time.

Proposals and questions should be submitted to:
Mary Moscatelli
Executive Director of the Venice Art Center
Mary@veniceartcenter.com
390 Nokomis Ave S., Venice, FL 34285
941-485-7136 (office)
Proposals are due no later than 5:00 p.m. ET on June 30, 2021.
VeniceArtCenter.com