3^rd Annual Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival

Naro Expanded Cinema & Various Locations in Ghent, Norfolk

April 8- 10, 2010

Tidewater Arts Outreach hosts the only singer/songwriter festival in Southeastern Virginia. The festival appeals cross-culturally to adults in the 25+ age range.  And, the festival draws audiences from across the region. The weekend activities include a headliner concert, street buskers, an artistic silent auction, Emerging Artist competition and concerts by local singer/songwriters at gathering spots and restaurants in Ghent.

HEADLINER CONCERT

The main event is a ticketed concert featuring national recording artist Ben Taylor on Thursday, April 8, at the Naro Expanded Cinema that kicks off the festival weekend. The Naro, located in the heart of Ghent is an ideal, intimate venue that seats 530. The Naro is transformed into a concert hall with professional sound and light systems.  Adult beverages, concert shirts and artist CDs are sold before and after the concert. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event. 

LIVE PERFORMANCES BY REGIONAL MUSICIANS

The eclectic, popular and well-visited Ghent neighborhood, and its restaurants, shops and burgeoning neighborhood, is the backdrop for a weekend of music involving some of our area's finest acoustic artists. These Friday and Saturday night concerts, in addition to shopping and restaurant specials that are advertised at the Thursday night event, continue to draw people to Ghent.  These concerts may be ticketed or free depending on the performers and the venues.

EMERGING ARTIST SHOWCASE

A songwriting showcase is also scheduled for Saturday evening.  Local radio personalities Paul Shugrue and Hunter Hughes host this competition to showcase non-professional performers.  Area songwriters perform their songs live and winners have an opportunity to appear on local radio shows and at the next year’s Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival.

ARTISTIC SILENT AUCTION

Since Tidewater Arts Outreach’s work includes the visual arts, regional artists showcase their talents in an artistic silent auction during the festival. This year, TAO artists will embellish musical instruments reflecting our tagline – The instruments to heal are in our hands.  Most artwork will be median $250 value, but we will have a range of work available for sale. 

GUITAR AUCTION

The Guitar Auction is much anticipated and highly successful. A high quality guitar is raffled during the Thursday evening concert at the Naro. 

2010 Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival

Sponsorship Opportunities

TITLE SPONSOR  $5,000

• The Title Sponsor receives the sponsor’s name listed before the event name
• We will customize a sponsor program to promote your participation, drive traffic to your business and to maximize this relationship throughout the TAO program year
• Twenty preferred seating tickets to the kick off concert
• Double truck ad in event program
• All other benefits listed below for Major Sponsor (ad space is listed above)

MAJOR SPONSOR $2,500

·         The event will be promoted by WHRV and Sinclair stations including:  WNIS AM 790, WROX 93.7 BOB FM, and WTAR 850 AM.  The major sponsors are included in the radio spots.

·         On-location advertising at the venues and through e-mail blast to TAO and Ghent mailing lists

·         Opportunity to drive traffic to your retail location for ticket purchases

·         Article about sponsorship in Tidewater Arts Outreach newsletter

·         Sponsor logo on posters at area restaurants, shops and music stores

·         Ten preferred seating tickets to the kick off concert

·         Sponsor recognition in all press releases to be distributed to newspapers, magazines, web calendars and TV stations

·         Listings in area event website calendars: Your757.com, hamptonroads.com; onhamtponroads.com, WTAR, WVEC, WAVY, Cultural Alliance, Tidewater Arts Outreach, destinationghent.com

·         Full page ad in event program book

·         Name and logo on all print and promotional materials

·         Link from TAO web site to your company’s site

·         Sponsor representative involved in kick off concert opening remarks

·         Banner displayed during event at Naro Theater

GOLD SPONSOR $1,000

·         Listings on poster, news releases, TAO website and newsletter

·         Link from TAO web site to your company site

·         Eight tickets in preferred seating at kick off concert

·         Half-page ad in program book

·         Banner displayed during event at Naro Theater

SILVER SPONSOR $750

·         Level-appropriate listing on poster, news release, TAO web site and newsletter

·         Link from TAO web site to your company site

·         Half-page ad in program book

·         4 tickets in preferred seating for Kick off concert

Affiliate Concert Sponsor $350

·         For this sponsorship, Tidewater Arts Outreach will organize a “Happy Hour” or “After Dinner” concert at your venue – musicians will provide all sound equipment necessary and we will have a volunteer at your venue to assist with production

·         Concert listing on poster, news release, TAO web site and newsletter

·         Link from TAO web site to your company site

·         Quarter page ad in program book

·         2 tickets in preferred seating for Kick off concert

FRIEND OF THE FESTIVAL/TAO $100

·         Level-appropriate listing in program book and on TAO website event page

·         1 general admission ticket

Advertising Opportunities

A special program will be produced and printed for all attendees of the Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival. Promote your business or service or just show your support of Tidewater Arts Outreach by placing an ad in the program.

1/4 page for $200                    1/2 page for $300           Full page for $500

     2.5”W x 4”H                             5”W x 4”H                    5”W x 8”H

1 ticket included                      1 ticket included               2 tickets included

Tidewater Arts Outreach is a nonprofit organization founded in 2003 to bring music and arts to hospitals, retirement homes, rehabilitation centers, homeless shelters and other facilities throughout Hampton Roads. Our mission is to share quality arts experiences with people who have limited access to the arts due to health, economic or social circumstance to promote healing, interaction and joy.

The benefits of arts in healthcare are many:

·         Reduces anxiety and pain

·         Enhances the connection to community

·         Helps staff connect with patients

·         Fosters the healing process

 In FY 2008/09, more than 5,300 people were reached through 230 Tidewater Arts Outreach programs.

Tidewater Arts Outreach supports the spirit of empathy and caring in the music and arts community, and more than 237 artists participate in its programs each year. 

The organization works hard to fund its programs through a variety of activities.  In the spring, Tidewater Arts Outreach presents the Sea Level Singer/Songwriter Festival with concerts, contests, workshops and street buskers throughout the April weekend in Ghent. In October, the agency hosts the Twilight Golf Tournament in Portsmouth, and house concerts featuring TAO artists and guest musicians are held throughout the year.

For more information about Tidewater Arts Outreach or for opportunities to support or volunteer, go to TWartsoutreach.org.