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GALA DINNER AUCTION!!! On Saturday, May 1, 2010 Click for Invitation |
 See us on FACEBOOK... |
 Organizers prepare for Geckofest 2010 Jul. 19, 2009 Geckofest awards grants to local school art programs Dec. 13, 2008 See all Press Releases... |
Be a part of the excitement! Sponsor a gecko
on your building,
come join in the activities and come to the auction to bid on your favorite gecko! The 3rd bi-annual Bradenton GeckoFest is returning to delight and unite the community! Those colorful, six foot fiberglass geckos will be adorning local buildings from December 2009 through April 2010 when they will come down for the Gala and Auction. Many thanks to Geico for stepping up again as the presenting sponsor. This event, as part of Realize Bradenton, is produced by the South Florida Museum, the Manatee Players, the Artists Guild of Manatee, Inc., the Manatee County Cultural Alliance, the Manatee County Historical Commission and ArtCenter Manatee with Jayne Kocher serving as the committee chairperson. This year's events include a Grab A Gecko party, maps to lead visitors and residents to the gecko locations, coloring contest, a Gecko Preview party at Reels on Rossi, a float in the DeSoto Grand Parade and the Gecko Auction and Gala. Proceeds benefit the participating organizations and visual arts programs in our schools. GeckoFest History The Bradenton GeckoFest first debuted in 2006 as a fundraiser for the Village of the Arts, creating an important bridge between the business and arts communities -- a brilliant pairing. Schools and social groups got involved, and funds were raised to augment the County's shrinking art education budgets. City residents and tourists alike were treated to these family-friendly colorful six-foot geckos crawling up and down sides of buildings throughout Downtown Bradenton. Two years later, Geckofest in 2008, with Geico Corporation as the Event Sponsor, the GeckoFest was reborn. After being displayed throughout the City for six months, the 64 Geckos were auctioned off at a Gala to the highest bidders. Funds were raised for various County art organizations, including ArtCenter Manatee, South Florida Museum, the Arts Council of Manatee, Inc, and the Artists Guild of Manatee, Inc. (Village of the Arts). Nearly $13,000 of the raised funds were earmarked as grants for the public schools and seed money will be put aside for future art-on-the-street events. THANK YOU TO OUR MAJOR SPONSORS    See all of our sponsors.... |
 
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