SPONSORING

The programming variety found at First Night Raleigh and Artsplosure-the Raleigh Arts Festival is inviting, original, and popular. These high quality festivals are well-attended, attracting over 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 20 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 as many as 80,000 people annually. 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 Artsplosure 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 WRAL-TV5/ Mix 101.5 FM, and The News & Observer. First Night has 30 media sponsors, including Carolina Parent, The Carolinian, The Independent Weekly, 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 Harris Teeter and Rite Aid stores are major First Night button outlets.

Artsplosure attendance also reflects the marketplace 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

Presenting Sponsor -- $25,000+ Annual Commitment

The highest level of sponsorship recognition with logo placement on all festival-related publications and marketing materials, including official program guides, posters, volunteer recruitment postcards and First Night Raleigh point-of-sale materials. Presenting Sponsors receive first tier recognition on publications, on festival signage and in stage announcements from each stage or at each venue.  Sponsor may set up an information booth at both First Night and Artsplosure.  Presenting sponsors are recognized on both artsplosure.org and firstnightraleigh.com, and receive invitations to any sponsor and patron receptions, 50 complimentary First Night Raleigh admission buttons and 2 festival tee-shirts of comparable mementos.

Major Sponsor -- $10,000+ per Festival
Logo placement privileges in a secondary position to Presenting Sponsors on all festival-related publications, marketing materials, festival web site, and on-site and Main Stage signage. 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, 35 complimentary First Night admission buttons (if applicable) and 2 festival mementos.

Feature Program Sponsor -- $4,000 to $8,000 per Festival
Company logo is included in a tertiary position to Presenting Sponsors on festival-related publications and marketing materials.  Company receives title recognition of a feature activity such as Kidsplosure, the Art Market, or a special large-scale art installation at Artsplosure or the Children's Celebration, Early Countdown, Fireworks at Midnight or the People's Procession at First Night. An informational booth is also permitted at the festival. Sponsor also receives invitations to sponsor and patron reception and 25 First Night admission buttons (if applicable) and 2 festival mementos.

Activity Sponsor -- $1,000 to $3,000 per Festival
Company receives acknowledgement in the festival program guide, logo on on-site signs at the sponsored activity and listing and link on the festival's website. Activities can be one of 25+ performance or interactive venues at First Night, a commissioned visual art installation or activity at either festival, or an educational outreach initiative. Sponsor also receives invitation to sponsor and patron reception and 10 First Night admission buttons (if applicable) and 1 festival memento.

Exhibitor or Test Marketer -- $1,000 to $3,500 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 as a sponsor and has a booth or its own self-contained display unit in a high traffic area.

All sponsors and partners are recognized in the printed program guide and online on the applicable festival's website at either www.artsplosure.org or www.firstnightraleigh.com. 

To become a sponsor of First Night Raleigh or Artsplosure-The Raleigh Arts Festival, contact Executive Director Michael Lowder at rmlowder@artsplosure.org.