Canton OKs $7.5K for arts festival promotion

Canton is releasing an additional $7,550 to the Cherokee County Arts Council to promote the Canton Festival of the Art, May 19-20 in downtown Canton. CHEROKEE ARTS COUNCIL via Facebook

Canton is releasing an additional $7,550 to the Cherokee County Arts Council to promote the Canton Festival of the Art, May 19-20 in downtown Canton. CHEROKEE ARTS COUNCIL via Facebook

The Canton City Council has approved releasing an additional $7,550 from hotel/motel tax funds to the Cherokee County Arts Council to promote the Canton Festival of the Arts.

This year's festival, by the Cherokee Arts Center, is May 19-20 in Brown Park in downtown Canton. Information: https://bit.ly/2K2iigp

Mary M. Akers, Arts Center executive director, and Kathy Low, Arts Council treasurer, said in a letter to the City Council that they are working with a promoter to increase the visibility and reach of the festival.

Plans include coordination with a public relations firm, social media advertising and presence, revamped website, print and signage, and online artist advertisement application services. “We anticipate that this visibility and regional promotion will bring more people into Historic Downtown Canton than in any previous year,” the letter says.

The city amended its fiscal year 2018 budget to provide the $7,550 in addition to the $35,000 previously designated for the arts.