March 9 & 10, 2024 at Tom Varn Park in Brooksville, Florida

Art-related businesses and nonprofits– we invite you to join be a part of the Children’s Experience Area at the 39th Annual Art in the Park!

All nonprofits participating in Art in the Park 2024 will be located in the Children’s Experience area and are required to offer interactive art activities for children ages 3-11. Participating nonprofits and art-related businesses can promote their organization, but cannot sell products or services. Performers on the Children’s Experience stage are not required to offer art activities or host a booth.

Who can apply: Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations, or art-related businesses

Summary: The Children’s Experience offers a mini Art in the Park art festival for children. Located adjacent to the main portion of Art in the Park, our goal is to encourage children’s creativity through hands-on art activities beyond coloring sheets. Children may take their creations with them or display them at the Children’s Experience. Last year more than 30 non-profits, art-related businesses, and civic groups supported this special area. 

Where: The show takes place at Tom Varn Park, a natural setting surrounded by beautiful oak trees in Brooksville, Florida.

When: March 9 & 10, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Deadline to Apply: Past-participant early access applications are due on September 1, 2023. New participant applications are due on October 1, 2023.

Children’s Experience Meeting: Date and location to be determined and will be emailed to you once finzalized

All businesses must read and accept the Children’s Experience details and rules found below. The required waiver will be emailed in the month of August.

Email questions to Children’s Experience Coordinator, Nidia Pierre, at nidia@HernandoArts.org.

Children Experience Participant Details

There are three ways to participate in the Children’s Experience:

  1. One or more shifts (10 a.m-1 p.m. or 1:30-5 p.m.) either Saturday, March 11, or Sunday, March 12, 2023.

  2. Both days: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

  3. Perform on the Children’s Experience stage—complete the form, check “Perform on the Children’s Experience Stage,” and coordinate directly with Jane Geddings missjanesclass@aol.com


Costs:  There are no booth space fees. You must supply volunteers and materials for the activity you are offering. For half-day shifts, we will supply one 10’ x 10’ tent, one table, and 6 chairs for your activity. For those organizations on site both Saturday and Sunday, you must supply your own tents, tables, and chairs. Free parking is available.

Registration/setup: Friday, March 10, 8 a.m.–6 p.m and Saturday, March 11, 7:30 a.m.– 9:45 a.m

Requirements:

  • Shift participants must be set up and ready when their shift starts. You must pack up at the end of your shift so that the next group can set up.

  • Nonprofits may promote their mission, programs, events, and materials. They may also put out a donation jar for their organization.

  • Art-related businesses may have signage promoting their business, but may not sell products or services. 

  • No political candidates or political parties. 

  • By City Ordinance, pets are NOT allowed in the park. Service animals only.

  • HCFAC reserves the right to photograph work on display for use in promotions of the Art Festival and for future promotional materials for HCFAC.

  • More set-up information will be provided at the November 3 meeting and by email.

  • Select an interactive art activity for pre-approval by November 3rd. Our target is children ages 3-11. To ensure we have enough art projects for all of the age groups, especially the older kids, we will host a meeting of participants on November 3, 2023, (alternate date November 6) at 5:30 PM (details to follow). At this meeting, we ask all to bring a picture or replica of your selected project(s) so we can ensure that there is no duplication and that we have quality activities for all ages. Some ideas are at this link.