During its first major fundraiser, the Helper Project raised $40,000 in revenue and a guest log that included out-of-state and international visitors. The attraction was an art show titled, “The Nest: Women Artists of Helper City.” The exhibition was curated by Anne Morgan Jespersen, who co-founded the Helper Project with Roy Jespersen last year.
According to figures presented to the city council by project member Kathleen Royster last Thursday, the exhibition had 257 documented visitors, half of whom came from outside the area. Out-of-staters came from North Carolina, Seattle, San Francisco, New Mexico, Mississippi and Vermont. County tourism director Shalee Johansen brought in guests from Paris and New Zealand.
All artwork purchasers were from out of the area. Catalog sales, raffle tickets and donations made up the rest of the funds.
The Helper Project is a non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to supporting community improvements. The group has done such things as purchase new trash cans for Main Street and co-sponsoring events like the Helper Arts and Music Festival and the Outlaw Car Show.
The group is also working on getting an ATM machine installed somewhere and bringing the Salt Lake Youth Orchestra to Helper.
A long-term goal is reonovation of the train station and grounds.
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