Every participating retail business had a good variety of work from their associate artist. Studios were alive with colour from canvasses, photographs and sculptures. Off-Main studios like The Beaumont, Yukon, Studio One Glass, Leighdon Studio Gallery, Elliot Louis Gallery,  had steady streams of visitors from the time the doors opened. Main Street  business owners I spoke to were very impressed with the numbers coming through their doors on both days. They definitely felt that their business was positively affected by the numbers of people coming in to look at the art. They were extremely complimentary about the art having the effect of drawing people to Main Street and into their stores to first look at paintings, photographs and sculpture and perhaps then to purchase.

Several people I spoke to commented on the quality of the art on display. They genuinely expressed that, after attending The Drift for 5 years, they felt that all of the art was of a significantly higher level of achievement. They felt they had seen many pieces they would like to purchase. Just how much of that took place we'll have to find out. But, the appreciation was there and as far as I'm concerned, that counts for a lot.

So, after 5 years of The Drift, you, the artists in a retail business and studios, are to be congratulated on a really good show. Your commitment to being an active member of The Drift is much appreciated. There were over 90 artists this year.  

And to you, business owners and sales persons, we thank you for your enthusiastic participation in helping to make the 2009 Drift Festival a huge success. We achieved our basic goal because of you: to bring together the Main Street Arts Community and the Retail Business Community to display art up and down Main Street, thereby attracting large numbers of the public to indulge and enjoy themselves over the festival weekend.

The 2009 Drift Festival was a huge success because of you all!

Thankyou...

Kevin Davies
Chair
The Drift Board Of Directors
Oct 7th, 2009