Show Review of the Month - Cocoa Beach Art Show

November 2024, by Sunshine Artist Editor

November 25-26, 2023; Cocoa Beach Art Show, Cocoa Beach, FL. Contact: Cocoa Beach Art Show, Cindy Kelley, 1 S. Orlando Ave., Cocoa Beach, FL 32931; Phone: 321-749-7874; Email: cbasartdirector@gmail.com; Website: cocoabeachartshow.com; Application fee: $40; Space fees: $300 to $600; Space sizes: 12x12 to 12x24; Exhibitors: 150; Attendance estimate: 15,000. 

The Cocoa Beach Art show ranked FA78 in 2023’s 200 Best list. Seventy-six percent of the artists who reviewed the 2023 show said they would exhibit in it again. 

“Love this show,” said a ceramicist who made $1,500. This artist would participate again. 

A mixed media artist who reported $4,700 in sales hopes to be invited back. “It was a great show — my best ever,” the artist said. 

An artist whose medium was painting made $4,000 and would do the show again due to it being a profitable and fun show that suits the artist’s work. “The turnout is really good,” the artist said.                

Sales totaled $5,000 for a mixed media artist who would return. 

One photographer might be interested in doing the show again. “It seemed well-attended, but the flow of traffic was not good. It is very tight to get set up and torn down,” said the artist who did not report the sales total. “The little offshoot at the courthouse got about half the traffic as the other main roads. One suggestion would be to put two booths back-to-back in the center of the road, so people go through the offshoot. You could see many people on the main streets but not much flow where we were.” 

A wood artist would participate again due to the great sales. The artist did not report the sales total. 

An artist whose medium was painting made $900 and wants to return due to winning an award. 

A fiber/textile/leather artist hopes to be back as well. “I just like doing Cocoa Beach. I just love the show,” said this artist who did not report the sales total. 

Sales totaled $1,600 for a photographer who plans to take a break from the show. “I don't know how they are advertising, but it seems like they are gearing the audience for more of a party crowd than a fine art-buying crowd. Lots of alcohol sales and rock music and seems like a diminishing attention to the artists,” the artist said. “I grew up in this area, so I really want this show to work, but it was my slowest show in 2023. People were there, but not that many were interested in purchasing art.” 

A wood artist whose sales total about $850 might do the show again. 

But a photographer who had $750 in sales would not. “Folks weren’t interested in my large photographs; they had some interest in my small works at low price points. This show is part of a larger family event, which draws great crowds every year. They aren’t necessarily there to buy art, although functional craft seemed to do well. It’s a tough show for a first timer, especially at check-in,” said this artist, noting artist parking filled up quickly. 

A photographer who made $10,000 would return. 

Promoter’s Self‑Review 

Cindy Kelley said the setup went smoothly for the Cocoa Beach Art Show. “Our volunteers are very adept at directing the artists to their locations,” she said. 

She estimated attendance at 15,000 and said the weather affected it. “Saturday was good — a little slower than usual due to cloudy skies, which most likely kept those that live more than 30 miles from us away,” Kelley said. “Sunday was awesome, though we did get a little sprinkle. People were buying. Artists were very complimentary about the public with whom they dealt. Many said, ‘The people here are so nice and friendly,’” 

Kelley said most artists seemed happy. The show gave away $20,000 in prize money. 

“In the beginning, one artist was not happy moving into the ‘offshoot behind the courthouse.’ After the show, he said he wanted to be there again next year,” she said. 

The best improvement made others might learn from was adding a sponsor member to their Board of Directors. “We are a small volunteer BOD of seven. In past years, we have relied on the generosity of the community to help us with our shows,” Kelley said, adding that they also learned they need a Park and Ride Program. 
Her message to those considering this show, “We are a great beach community that honors the arts, which includes the art of music. We do have one end of the show dedicated to musical artists and spectators. 

“We have artists that ask to be in that area. If an artist lets us know they prefer to not be, then we will do our best to not locate them there. We always do our best to honor artist location requests, but sometimes it's simply not possible. We provide an artist’s breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings. We have booth sitters. We have local police walking the area, although artists are responsible for their own tents and items. Our prize money is $20,000. We want artists with new work, and all items have to have been created within the last three years of applying.”