Arts at Hayfield News

THE SHOW MUST GO ON!

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Student Helps Create Virtual Craft Fair

After Arts at Hayfield canceled both of its planned craft shows, volunteers began formulating a plan so the show could go on – with the assistance of a Penn State Wilkes-Barre student who is using her skills to help the event go virtual.

The 2020 Hometown Traditions Virtual Craft Fair launched on September 6 and runs through December 31.

Arts at Hayfield has a long tradition of raising funds to support local arts programs and artists as well as supplying scholarships to Penn State Wilkes-Barre students. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and concern for patrons’ safety and well-being, the organization was forced to cancel both the 2020 Summer Arts Festival and Homespun Holiday Craft Show. As an alternative to the live on-campus craft shows, organization volunteers worked together to create a craft fair to promote crafters and vendors. Jonathan Pineno, president; Janis Winter, treasurer; William Bachman, marketing and promotions, and Autumn Resauit, social media, and marketing coordinator, developed the Hometown Traditions Virtual Craft Fair, which pays homage to the history of Arts at Hayfield craft fairs that have been hosted at Penn State Wilkes-Barre for 35 years.

This year’s virtual craft fair connects crafters to visitors through Facebook and the Arts at Hayfield website. Throughout the coming weeks, Arts at Hayfield will post a featured crafter to help them gain exposure to Arts at Hayfield craft show patrons. Those interested in an item they see during the virtual event can visit the crafters’ websites or contact the crafter to make a purchase.

Autumn Resauit worked with Pineno, her mentor, to create a proposal and advertisement pieces for the virtual craft fair. Resauit continues managing the Facebook page, where she creates graphics and develops posts.

“Everything that I know about social media, event promotion and communications is from my Penn State courses,” she said. “Volunteering with Arts at Hayfield has given me the chance to combine my passion for the arts and to apply what I have learned in my courses.”   

Resauit also said helping the craft show continue is important to her because as a student herself, she knows how important the scholarships offered at Penn State Wilkes-Barre are. “I’m so passionate about helping Arts at Hayfield because it benefits students. I know that as a student, any help is welcomed,” she said.

The Hometown Traditions Virtual Craft Fair can be viewed on the Arts at Hayfield Facebook Pages