Who Is Sleeping in My Bed?

The Line Up

Waiting for their host to pick them up.

So who are these bears anyway?

Each year, local businesses and charities sponsor art for the annual Bearfootin' Art Walk down Main Street. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the community art project, and Main Street Director Lew Holloway hopes it's bigger than last year. "The Art Walk is really the opportunity for the creative community to represent itself in a really vibrant way downtown," Holloway said. A change in the regulations this year allows bear sponsors to choose which charity will benefit from the proceeds of the auction in October. In the past, the person who bought the bear at auction was able to choose the charity. "We look at it as a way for us to partner with local charities," Holloway said. "We really hope to engage the nonprofits more." Cost to sponsor a bear is $800, the same as last year, and officials again chose the standing bears. Sponsors are required to purchase the bear and arrange for an artist. Holloway said he keeps a list of artists who have previously worked on bears. "This is one of the ways we can bring attention to our community and do it in one of our public places," he said. Nine bears were sponsored last year. Holloway said he hopes to increase that number this year, though he does not have a specific goal. The auction raised just under $14,000, with half going to local charities and the other to downtown Hendersonville. Holloway said the money raised last year will be invested into this year's art. Holloway said he hopes to have most of the sponsors secured by February. "We're really getting into the heat of recruiting sponsors," he said.The Bearfootin' auction is the strongest fundraiser for downtown Hendersonville, he added. The goal of the Art Walk is to showcase the talent of the local creative community, the attractiveness of downtown, the contributions of local nonprofits, and the community-minded nature of local businesses. The Bearfootin' auction is the strongest fundraiser for downtown Hendersonville, he added. The goal of the Art Walk is to showcase the talent of the local creative community, the attractiveness of downtown, the contributions of local nonprofits, and the community-minded nature of local businesses. "We're connecting all the work we are doing to our work plan," Holloway said. At a Wednesday planning session for the Main Street Advisory Board, the group said the vision statement says that downtown Hendersonville is the heart of an economically and culturally vibrant mountain community. As for the group's mission, members want to "foster and support a vibrant, diverse and sustainable downtown by managing, enhancing and promoting historic downtown Hendersonville as the economic and cultural heart of Henderson County." For more information on the Art Walk, call 828-233-3216 or email lholloway@cityofhendersonville.org. By Jessica Goodman Times-News Staff Writer Published: Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 4:30 a.m. Last Modified: Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 12:00 a.m.