The Penland School of Crafts Annual Benefit Auction is the premiere craft auction in the southeast, providing funds to support the operations of Penland School of Crafts while introducing new artists to collectors and expanding public understanding and awareness of craft.
The auction attracts over 800 collectors and volunteers to the Penland campus in the mountains of North Carolina each August. The weekend brings artists and patrons together and provides collectors with opportunities to meet established and emerging artists, learn about trends in contemporary craft, and see and purchase exceptional new work. Penland’s auction patrons represent an affluent and educated demographic passionate about art and interested in investing in the health and the future of the arts in Western North Carolina. The event directly supports the economy of Mitchell and Yancey Counties as local businesses and the regional craft community benefit from patrons and volunteers seeking accommodations and services in the area.
The Penland Annual Benefit Auction is an important event in the framework of cultural promotion and outreach focused on contemporary craft and the craft economy in North Carolina. As such, the auction also attracts major media sponsors seeking to reach the craft collecting community. Recent key media sponsors include SOFA (Sculpture Objects Functional Art), the premier exposition of international contemporary craft held annually in Chicago, New York and Santa Fe, the national American Craft magazine, and the Carolina mountains’ WNC magazine, all of which advertise and often provide editorial space to the auction. Consequently, word of the auction reaches a national audience, providing excellent visibility for Penland, the event, and those who partner with Penland to sponsor the event.
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
Auction Leader $10,000
· $2,330 FMV │ $7,670 tax deductible
· Tickets for six guests to attend the Friday and Saturday auctions
· Special Saturday auction seating with a Penland-affiliated artist
· Invitation to the Director’s Luncheon on Friday and other exclusive auction events
· Reserved VIP parking for the Friday and Saturday auctions
· Recognition as the lead sponsor in Penland’s Annual Report
· Premium full-page advertisement placement and listing in the Annual Benefit Auction Catalog
· Sponsorship recognition on auction collateral, e-newsletters, sponsor signage, website and Facebook
Auction Benefactor $7,500
· $1,870 FMV │ $5,630 tax deductible
· Tickets for four guests to attend the Friday and Saturday auctions
· Special Saturday auction seating with a Penland-affiliated artist
· Invitation to the Director’s Luncheon on Friday
· Reserved VIP parking for the Friday and Saturday auctions
· Premium full-page advertisement placement and listing in the Annual Benefit Auction Catalog
· Sponsorship recognition on auction collateral, e-newsletters, sponsor signage, website and Facebook
Auction Supporter $5,000
· $1,110 FMV │$3,890 tax deductible
· Special Saturday auction seating with a Penland-affiliated artist
· Tickets for two guests to attend the Friday and Saturday auctions
· Special Saturday auction seating with a Penland-affiliated artist
· Invitation to the Director’s Luncheon on Friday
· Reserved VIP parking for the Friday and Saturday auctions
· Full-page advertisement and listing in the Annual Benefit Auction Catalog
· Sponsorship recognition on auction collateral, e-newsletters, sponsor signage, website and Facebook
Auction Patron $2,500
· $810 FMV │$1,690 tax deductible
· Tickets for two guests to attend the Friday auction
· Invitation to the Director’s Luncheon on Friday
· Reserved VIP parking for the Friday auction
· Half-page advertisement and listing in the Annual Benefit Auction Catalog
· Sponsorship recognition on auction collateral, e-newsletters, sponsor signage, website and Facebook
Artist Table Sponsor $1,500
· Fully tax deductible
· Underwrites ten seats for contributing artists at the Annual Benefit Auction
· Sponsorship recognition on auction collateral, e-newsletters, sponsor signage, website and Facebook
DESCRIPTION OF BENEFITS
· Company listing on auction collateral: invitation, catalog, targeted e-newsletters and Penland’s annual report. Distribution print: 8,800+, email: 4,072 subscribers with 40.5% open rate (2015)
· Logo placement on dedicated sponsor signage located in the auction tent and registration area during the Annual Benefit Auction weekend. Exposure to 500+ guests
· Listing on Penland.org 37,700 unique visitors (July-August 2015)
· Facebook recognition, thank you to sponsors and link to online catalog. 29,298 Facebook page likes (October 2015)
· Director’s Luncheon, an exclusive luncheon featuring gourmet food grown at Penland with top-tier donors and remarks given by the executive director to kick-off the auction weekend.
