It's a frequently asked question... What the hell is PhotoVentura?

PV07 isn't really a thing... it's a concept. It all began with the idea "What if all the photographic talent in Ventura exhibited their work all at once?" With that in mind, PhotoVentura 2005 was born by picking a day on the calendar writing a lot of e-mails and letting the synergy of Ventura's art scene take over from there. The PV07 theme is that the event or exhibit in some way relate to photography. All the galleries, schools, clubs, artists and photographers can do whatever they want. No formal framework, just a date on the calendar and a lot of people talking about photography. That being said, there's also no one to hold your hand and create your event, except YOU. You need to get the word out about your event, enroll your friends, tell your peers, put up fliers, send postcards, and make phone calls. So will 20 to 30 other photographers and galleries, and when people who are interested in photography come to downtown to see your show, they now have the chance to see a lot of other shows too. Just as one little reception or opening can get lost in the long list of "things to do", the PhotoVentura event has the ability to stand out and be a "must do art event!"

How can I be a part of Photoventura 2007 ?

To be a part of PV07, you don't need to be an established artist, and you don't need to do a formal exhibit. Just find a location in the downtown to exhibit, or enter one of the competitions listed, or volunteer to work on KidzSnap with the kids, or get a group of photographers together and have a group show... The City of Ventura has a permit process to allow for exhibits in the street or in a park, you could hang work from a clothesline, or project your images on the side of a building in downtown as a slide-show event, or teach a class, or workshop on photography techniques, ETC, ETC... (the ideas are endless) Invent your own concept, print out the listing form, and mail $30.00 payable to Buenaventura Art Association to:

SCHAF PHOTO STUDIOS

P.O. Box 24218

Ventura, CA  93002

What is the timing for PhotoVentura 2007?

This year we are trying an October timeline. The official start date is the day of the Gallery Crawl, Saturday, October 20. The Gallery Crawl is the premier event for PhotoVentura, and every exhibit venue is asked to schedule and promote their artist's receptions on that day. Gallery Crawl times are not set in stone, but the idea is for venues to be open all afternoon, and artists to be available in the evening. For those who like more exact suggestions... galleries might want to be open from noon or 1:PM into the evening, and artists should plan to attend their receptions from 6 to 8 or 9PM. This gives participating photographers a chance to see other shows in the daytime, and patrons can meet the photographers they want to in the evening. The listings for PhotoVentura events will include the two weeks between October 20th and November 3rd. Photo workshops and safaris, and slide shows should be scheduled during this time. PhotoVentura 2007 officially ends on Saturday November 3rd (Harvest ArtWalk) although exhibits can start before October 20th and end after November 3rd. (Gallery Crawl was scheduled to take place before Halloween and Thanksgiving and the Holidays)

Is there a charge for PhotoVentura?

There is a $30 charge to be included in the website and map. If you want to set up an exhibit or event on City of Ventura Property, in a park or on a sidewalk, there is a charge for a one-day permit from the City.

Will there be advertising and promotion of the event?

The Photoventura concept is to gather all the events that artists and galleries create, and market them together as a festival. Bigger is not always better, so only galleries and photographers have been asked to participate. If you have a shoe store and want to participate, convince a photographer to exhibit there, and have them contact us. In order to keep the costs down PV07 is targeting the people who frequent the art galleries in Ventura through direct mail. We will be sending out Postcards and distributing event maps at galleries in downtown. Building on the success of the PV05, we have enlisted art galleries with mailing lists and photographers with contacts, who send out direct mail postcards to their patrons and clients promoting their own shows. Those postcards will mention the synergy with other PhotoVentura events and PV07 maps will be available to people when they arrive at venues, showing all the exhibits and listing the photographers. Rather that doing expensive print advertising to convince people to like art, this direct and targeted marketing brings out people who are constantly engaged in the arts. Smaller crowds of people who are really interested in photography, and more wine for everyone.

When is the next PhotoVentura?

Every two years there will be another PhotoVentura. The next in 2009. In order to give the photographers time to create new work and give the volunteer organizers time to recover.