provided to The Santiva Chronicle
Marking its 43rd year, the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club’s Annual Arts and Crafts Festival will bring more than 100 top-notch artists and crafters to the islands the weekend of Feb. 14-15, 2025.
Festival organizers expect over 7,000 visitors to visit the Sanibel Community House, where the festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 14, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 15.
The juried show features more than 85 artists and crafters, exhibitors, cultural jewelers, and activities related to health, life enrichment, and disaster relief education, along with a Silent Auction and Sale with over 200 items to bid on.
“Patrons are going to find an amazing selection of handmade work that is incredibly creative and inventive,” Scot Congress, festival chairman and a member of the club since 1984, said.
“These are people who have considerable followings,” he said of the exhibitors. “Many show their work in galleries around the world.”
For the juried show portion of the event, exhibitors compete for first, second, and third place in 2-D art, 3-D art, photography, and jewelry, as well as honorable mention. A Best in Show, known as the Ikki Matsumoto award, will also be awarded.
Congress explained that more than 300 artists and crafters applied to be considered participants. They each had to submit photos and descriptions of their work, which were reviewed and chosen by a panel.
Inside The Community House, there is a Silent Auction and Sale with over 200 donated art items, merchandise, restaurant, and hotel certificates, and more.
“It’s the largest Silent Auction and Sale collection that we’ve ever had,” Congress added.
“Each of the exhibitors has donated an item; these artists are all incredibly philanthropic to Rotary,” he said. “Every artist is asked to donate a nice piece for our famous silent auction and sale, and we receive fabulous art.”
The festival is San-Cap Rotary’s primary fundraiser and an island tradition dating to the 1980s. Club President Paul Hawkins said, “Proceeds are used to support local, regional, and global needs.
Locally, organizations such as FISH, Community Housing & Resources, and Children’s Education Center of the Islands receive Rotary grants to support their projects.
The supported regional organizations are Rotary hurricane relief, Calusa Waterkeepers, and Meals of Hope. Globally, Rotary supports projects that provide clean water, eradicate polio, provide wheelchairs to people with disabilities, and improve healthcare for mothers and babies.
Additionally, apparel with designs by the late icon/artist Ikki Matsumoto will be available for purchase. The club creates a commemorative T-shirt to sell. Digitally preserved, then enhanced with the addition of the fair’s font, “Pink Flamingo” by Ikki Matsumoto, will be featured on this
year’s shirt.
Congress noted that Matsumoto was helpful to the club before his passing. “We like to remember Ikki, and his designs are appreciated by everybody,” he said.
A variety of long- and short-sleeve T-shirts, V-neck T-shirts, and other items will be available for purchase.
Rotary is an international organization with some 1.2 million members in 168 countries. The Sanibel-Captiva chapter has more than 85 members.
The group meets on Fridays at the Community House or via ZOOM. Visitors and Snowbirds are welcome to the 8 a.m. meetings. A $10 donation is requested.
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