It was one of those day dreams I had, to join Island Artists and Craftsmen in one big show displaying their wares. It took a lot of patience and the search began to find a place that was just right. Just at that time the Martha‚s Vineyard Agricultural Society built the "Barn". It was there in 1995 that the Vineyard Artisans Festivals first began. Our opening Festival was phenomenal. The Artisans had help in that first year from the Islands Cultural Councils of Aquinnah, Edgartown, and Oak Bluffs. A ribbon cutting ceremony with Selectman John Alley started off the festivities. The Artisans first festival was a success, the local papers spread the news with great pictures and everyone was happy. The following year the Holiday Festival was added. But something was missing, artists agreed, these shows were great but not the answer to the problem of Island Artists earning a sustainable living.

So I began the task of finding a place where we could have the same festival on a smaller scale, but all summer long . Parks wouldn't hear of it, the larger Hotels and Inns can't spare any space in the summer.Then in 1997 Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust bought the Old Ag Hall from the Town of West Tisbury, a place where the Farmers Market has successfully sold flowers and vegetables for many years. The Preservation Trust and the Town of West Tisbury welcomed us, and so the Artisans began the struggle with eleven courageous souls that year. It was a struggle to stay, but with kind compliments from the customers and the community at large we had hopes. One thought that encouraged us was that people love to meet the Island Artist and hear how they make their work.