SPONSORING

The programming variety found at First Night Raleigh and Artsplosure Spring Arts Festival is inviting, original, and popular. These high quality festivals are well-attended, attracting up to 125,000 people each year. They play an important role in uniting the community, with over 30 media sponsors providing sustained promotional and editorial support and they have significant positive impacts on the local economy.

OUR AUDIENCE

First Night attendance has averaged roughly 50,000 over the past 13 years, ranging from 15,000 in 1991, the first year, to 75,000 on December 30 - 31, 1999, for First Night Raleigh 2000. Recent audience surveys indicate that 80% of the First Night audience is white, 13% African-American, and 7% Hispanic, Asian, or Native American. Raleigh/Wake County residents comprise 67% of the First Night audience, with 12% coming from other Triangle region counties, 16% from other North Carolina counties, 4% from out-of-state, and 1% from foreign countries. The audience is 53% female, and 60% is aged 26 to 45. The mean age is 36. The median annual family income is $60,000. Forty percent indicate that they are attending their first First Night.

Artsplosure attracts 75,000 people. Recent audience surveys indicate that the festival audience is 75% white, 17% African-American, 4% Hispanic, and 4% Asian, Native American, or other. Raleigh/Wake County residents comprise 58%, with 28% coming from other Triangle region counties, 7% from other North Carolina counties, and 7% from out-of-state. The audience is 54% female, and 81% is aged 19 to 55. The Mean age is 35. The median annual family income is $65,000. As with First Night survey results, 40% of the audience indicate that they are attending their first Spring Arts Festival.

MEDIA AND PROMOTION

Reflecting Artsplosure's numerous media sponsors' marketplaces, First Night is marketed and promoted extensively in the greater Research Triangle area and throughout eastern North Carolina and the Sandhills. Major media sponsors include Time Warner Cable, WRAL-TV5/ Mix 101.5 FM, and The News & Observer. First Night has 30 media sponsors, including Carolina Parent, La Conexion, The Carolinian, Metro Magazine, WUNC-FM, and other specialty and minority-oriented magazines and tabloids and area radio and television stations. Up to $200,000 in donated media is made available during the marketing campaign, which begins approximately six weeks prior to the event. Regional Kerr Drug and Harris Teeter stores are major First Night button outlets.

Spring Arts Festival attendance also reflects the marketplaces and promotional efforts of the spring festival's 30 print and broadcast media sponsors, which include many area television stations, college and commercial radio stations, specialty and minority-oriented magazines, and weekly arts and entertainment tabloids, who donate over $175,000 in media for the five week long campaign.

SPONSORSHIP LEVELS

Major Sponsorship @ $10,000 per Festival
The highest level of sponsor recognition with logo placement privileges on all festival-related publications, marketing materials, festival web site, and on-site and Main Stage signage and company mention in radio advertising. Company logo appears on all large format newspaper and periodical advertising and is listed with other major sponsors on small format advertising. Sponsor can set up an information booth at the event. Sponsor also receives additional invitations to festival sponsor and patron receptions.

Feature Program Sponsor @ $5,000 to $7,500 per Festival
Company receives title recognition of a feature activity such as Kidsplosure, the Art Market or Children's Celebration and logo placement privileges as a "Feature Program Sponsor" on all festival-related publications, marketing materials, festival web site and on on-site and Main Stage signage. Company's logo appears on all large format newspaper and periodical advertising in a secondary position to major sponsors. An informational booth is also permitted.

Feature or Activity Sponsor @ $1,000 to $4,500 per Festival
Company receives acknowledgement in the festival brochure and on-site signs as the sponsor of a specific performance venue or activity such as the Deborah Clark Gallery in the Park, a visual arts installation, or an educational outreach initiative.

Exhibitor or Test Marketer @ $2,000 to $4,000 per Festival
Company joins a select group of commercial entities test marketing products, services, or client prospecting. The company is listed in the festival brochure and tabloid insert as a sponsor and has a booth or its own self-contained display unit in a high traffic area.

All sponsors receive complimentary First Night Raleigh admission buttons (50 for major sponsors, 25 for feature, and 10 for activity sponsors), a festival tee shirt, and invitations to sponsor and patron receptions and the Artsplosure annual meeting. Links to Artsplosure's two web sites (www.artsplosure.org and www.firstnightraleigh.com) are also available.

To become a sponsor of First Night Raleigh or Artsplosure Spring Arts Festival, contact rmlowder@artsplosure.org.