Challenge: 
Hill-Stead is a National Historic Landmark and an Official Project of Save America's Treasures. Over 714,000 adults and children have engaged with Hill-Stead's varied programs since the museum's inception in 1947. Today, over 32,000 visitors a year enjoy tours, lectures, family festivals, poetry and curriculum-based school activities.

In 2009, Hill-Stead was prepared to launch a new feature that was quite fitting for the museum's history, but not necessarily something people equate with a museum filled with renowned art:  a new weekly farmers market.

Strategy:
Prior to achieving its fame as a center of the arts, the Hill-Stead Museum used to be a working farm. In fact, this well suited owner Theodate Pope Riddle's vision of Hill-Stead, which she designed and ran as a fully operational dairy farm and orchard from 1901-1946.

To launch the farmers market, we chose an art poster motif that blended humor with farming and culture.

Winning Results:
Over 15 Connecticut farmers and vendors provided the community with an array of locally grown, fresh and organic vegetables, fruits, dairy products, naturally raised beef, veal, pork and lamb, baked goods, flowers, wool and Angora goat yarns, soaps and Connecticut-landed seafood.

Most vendors sold out in the first hour.