MAY 1-7, 2023 SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 25 NEWS said. “They run through and giggle, and there’s just this lively energy.” Many people discover the store for the first time during Artsfest. “Sometimes, people will think we’re only there for Artsfest,” she said. “We tell them, ‘No, we’re here all the time! Please come back!’ “It’s nice when people kind of stumble upon us and walk in with their flower arrangements or a bag with a painting in it. It’s just such a joyful time.” Rusty Worley, executive director of the Downtown Springfield Association, said a business doesn’t have to be located right on the festival venue, like Pagination Bookshop or Ebbets Field restaurant, to benefit from the festival. “There are businesses and artists who use it as a way to remind people of their yearround presence,” he said, citing as examples Formed collective gallery and Crystalline Velvet artisanal jewelry shop. “There are those businesses who come back year after year and participate,” he said. “They know it really is an opportunity for the community to be reminded of their storefront and what they do.” Forrester said some business owners gain exposure by volunteering while wearing their company names on their clothing. “What a great opportunity to have face time with a lot of people while helping out with a really important community event,” she said. For the bookshop, Murvin said learning how best to embrace the festival has been a process. “We tried to do poetry readings and other events,” she said, noting that having such events indoors made some people feel like they couldn’t shop, while having them outdoors made them hard to hear because of proximity to the main stage. “We mostly lean in to being open and being a resource for performers and visitors,” she said. She added that a lot of planning goes into the store’s approach to Artsfest weekend. “I always make sure I have a lot more puzzles, stickers, kids’ plushies,” she said. “I curate for Artsfest – I try to make sure I have a lot of kids’ art books every year. It’s something I really plan for.” The event, which runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 6-7, costs $5 for visitors ages 6 and up. • We allow you to focus on what you do best – running your business! • Business and individual tax preparation & consulting • Monthly accounting, bookkeeping & financial statements • Audit services for small business, nonprofit and low income housing • Real estate development and tax credit expertise 909 East Republic Rd., Suite F-200 Springfield MO 65807 (417) 408-8822 | info@smb-cpas.com Pictured L-R: Chris Myers, Partner, Matthew Blackwell, Partner, and Jacob Sanders, Managing Partner. Expertise you can trust. provided by THE SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL ARTS COUNCIL INC. ALL KINDS OF ART Artsfest includes stages for performing artists and booths featuring handmade art and craft offerings. 2023 PRESENTED BY NOW’S THE TIME to help shape the future of our local economy Springfield Business Journal invites you to participate in the fifth annual Economic Growth Survey. This data will help inform business leaders’ decision-making and serve as a guide for economic development. Our goal by measuring and analyzing this data is to help you and your business navigate the road ahead and thrive. sbj.net/EGS We Need Your Input
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