What is Plein Air Easton?

In its 11th year, Plein Air Easton is the largest and most prestigious outdoor painting competition in the United States. The festival is the work of the non-profit Avalon Foundation.  The object of Plein Air Easton is to expose the area’s vibrant arts community to a larger market.    The Avalon Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for the people living on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. 

Artists are juried into the festival from hundreds of worldwide applicants.  The artists that are selected for the competition make up some of the best plein air painters in the country.  They travel to Easton, Maryland (located on the Chesapeake Bay) and paint for six days competing for over $30,000 in prizes. 

Competition paintings produced during the week are exhibited in a local accredited museum and sold throughout the weekend. In 2014 art sales exceeded $365,000.  

The entire community mobilizes in celebration of this event.  Plein Air Easton and its community partners produce many events throughout the week including workshops, demonstrations, concerts and ticketed events.   This year’s festival is July 11-19, 2015, with pre festival events beginning on July 8. 

Plein Air Easton Marketing & Event Planner

The Avalon Foundation seeks an experienced Event Planner with strong writing skills and marketing prowess to aid in the production of its 2015 Festival.  Candidates could work a flexible teleworking one day (8-10 hours per week) from August-April primarily from anywhere but must be prepared to work full time from the Avalon Theatre in Easton, MD (40+ hours per week) May-July in order to adequately prepare for and aid the execution of the Festival.

Ongoing – August-April – One Day per Week

Attend regular Steering Committee and other Committee Meetings
Writing and distribution of timely press releases
Coordinating the design and placement of paid advertising
Routine updating of Plein Air Easton website content & Blogs
Regular maintenance and updating of Plein Air Easton’s Facebook pages
Relationship building with potential corporate and product sponsors

May-July – Full Time

Same as above plus:

Handling all Public Assembly Permits
Managing of supplies & general event needs
Administering to all Festival awards
Overseeing production of the Festival Program
Development & Coordination of all needed Signage

Updating
Design
Printing

Pre Plein Air Paint Outs – events for artists occurring prior to the actual event designed to get the competing artists settled and begin creating an inventory of paintings to sell.

Coordination of site/event logistics and details
Onsite Management

Quick Draw- is a plein air painting competition, exhibit and sale that is open to anyone who wishes to participate. Nearly 200 people; competition painters, professionals, amateurs and the simply adventurous compete and have fun.  These artists have only six blocks and two hours to complete their works.  After the paint out, an exhibit, judging and a sale is held on Harrison Street and paintings are exhibited on the easels on which they were created.

Coordination of event logistics
Onsite Event Management

Plein Air Easton – The Next Generation – Occurring the final Sunday of the festival (July 19, 2015) these events are designed to provide participating children with high quality art education.  The day is comprised of a series of workshops and art-related stations and a quick draw competition just for kids, all held outdoors on the streets of downtown Easton. 

Recruiting of content
Marketing & Promotion
Onsite Management

Other duties as assigned during the Festival

Please email resumes to jessica@avalonfoundation.org

No phone calls please.