The Rotary Club of Sanibel–Captiva Plans for the Most Successful Fund Raiser of the Year Marking its 43rd year, the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club’s Annual Arts and Crafts Festival will bring more than 100 top-notch artists and crafters to the islands to exhibit and sell their one-of-a-kind items the weekend of February 14-15, 2025. Organizers of the annual festival expect over 7,000 visitors to flood the grounds of the Sanibel Community House. The juried show offers more than 85 artists and crafters, exhibitors, cultural jewelers and activities relating to health, life enrichment and disaster relief education, along with a Silent Auction and Sale with over 200 items to bid on. Held at The Community House and Sanibel Community Playground, it will take place Feb. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 15.
“Patrons are going to find an amazing selection of handmade work that is incredibly creative and inventive,” Scot Congress, festival chairman and a member of the club since 1984, said. “These are people who have considerable followings,” he said of the exhibitors. “Many show their work in galleries around the world.”
For the juried show portion of the event, the exhibitors are competing for first place, second place and third place in the categories of 2-D art, 3-D art, photography and jewelry, as well as honorable mention. A Best in Show, known as the Ikki Matsumoto award, will also be awarded. Congress explained that more than 300 artists and crafters applied to be considered as a participant. They each had to submit photos and descriptions of their work, which were reviewed and chosen by a panel.
Inside The Community House there is a Silent Auction and Sale with over 200 donated art items, merchandise, restaurant, and hotel certificates and more. “It’s the largest Silent Auction and Sale collection that we’ve ever had,” Congress added. “Each of the exhibitors has donated an item, these artists are all incredibly philanthropic to Rotary,” he said. “Every artist is asked to donate a nice piece for our famous silent auction and sale and we receive fabulous art.”
The festival is San-Cap Rotary’s primary fundraiser and an island tradition dating to the 1980’s. Club President Paul Hawkins said, “Proceeds are used to support local, regional and global needs. Locally organizations such as FISH, Community Housing & Resources, and Children’s Education Center of the Islands receive Rotary grants to support their projects. Regional organizations supported are Rotary hurricane relief, Calusa Waterkeepers, and Meals of Hope. Globally Rotary supports projects providing clean water, eradication of polio, providing wheelchairs to the disabled, and supporting better healthcare for mothers and babies.”
Additionally, apparel with designs by icon/artist the late Ikki Matsumoto will also be available for purchase. The club creates a commemorative T-shirt to sell. Digitally preserved, then enhanced with the addition of the fair’s font, “Pink Flamingo” by Ikki Matsumoto will be featured on this year’s shirt. Congress noted that Matsumoto was helpful to the club before his passing. “We like to remember Ikki, and his designs are appreciated by everybody,” he said. A variety of long and short sleeve T-Shirts, V-neck T-shirts and other items will be available for purchase.
Rotary is an international organization with some 1.2 million members in 168 countries. The Sanibel-Captiva chapter has more than 85 members. The group meets Fridays at the Community House or via ZOOM. Visitors and Snowbirds are welcomed to the 8:00 a.m. meetings.
A $10 donation is requested. The Sanibel Community House is at 2173 Periwinkle. Drivers will be directed to free parking.
