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LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Rain and a pandemic – recent reasons for canceling parts or all of the annual downtown art fair – couldn’t dampen excitement for Round the Fountain, which is slated to begin on Saturday morning.
Round the Fountain was founded in 1973 to raise funds for the renovation of the Tippecanoe County’s courthouse. More than 60 artists from the region are selected by a committee dedicated to investing in arts education.
The art fair – from 9 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., at which the artists are honored – survives by stimulating art enthusiasts and gaining new fans.
“Some people are going to come to the farmers market on Saturday,” said Keith Austin, a committee member responsible for marketing and promoting Round the Fountain, “and look at all the stalls downtown and say, ‘Hey, look at this at.’
“This is great for anyone who wants to go to the farmers market and around the fountain, eat, and see the vendors. It’s a free and easy way to do something enriching with your family and enjoy the art and local vendors too support. “
The vendors’ booths will include a variety of skills such as jewelry making, ceramics, photography, sculpting, and painting in a variety of media.
“We were an event opening this summer in downtown Lafayette,” said Austin. “For some people, they look forward to seeing their favorite artists. For others, it’s a new experience.”
With the help of a jury, the committee recognizes the participating artists with awards for outstanding achievements and merits.
Every year, Austin said, the committee purchases a work of art to continue the permanent collection that is on display in the halls of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse.
Courthouse tours, usually held at the annual fair, won’t be part of the Saturday celebrations, but Austin said it encourages courthouse visitors to venture through the halls and enjoy the variety of artwork on display during operating hours .
Proceeds from the fair, which traditionally takes place on the Saturday before Memorial Day, supports art education in the region’s six public schools, art programs outside of opening hours, courthouse restoration projects, the restoration of the Marquis de Lafayette fountain, outdoor lighting and seating, landscaping, as well as public art projects and installations, according to the organization’s website.
Entrance fees as well as donations from companies and members of the community make the proceeds available to the beneficiaries of the region.
“Schools in the area get a big check for their projects,” Austin said. “For example, if they want to go on a big museum excursion and some children don’t have the entrance fee, they get money from the fair to really use it for whatever they want.”
When the organizers started planning in the first few months of 2021, the idea of a completely virtual Round the Fountain was considered – and immediately squashed by the artists themselves.
“Most of the feedback was against an online trade show,” said Austin, president of Better Merchants. “The artists said, ‘This is our income. We go to these fairs to make our money. If we have to skip fairs, all artists will be affected.’
“So we just said we’d do it until we were told we absolutely couldn’t.”
The number of booths was limited to allow sufficient space for social distancing, approximately 10 feet apart. Masks are recommended for those who feel the need, Austin said.
The Kiwanis and Rotary clubs offer food, including hot dogs and strawberry cake. Selling food at the art fair, Austin said, was a good fundraiser for these nonprofits.
Deanna Watson is the Editor-in-Chief at Journal & Courier. Contact her at dwatson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ deannawatson66.
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