Although the Double Decker Arts Festival is still several months away, Visit Oxford is already making plans for the 2017 festival.

Festival organizer Lee Ann Stubbs recently announced to the Oxford Tourism Council that this year’s presenting sponsor will be the University of Mississippi Museum.

However, the museum didn’t actually pay the $25,000 sponsorship – it was gifted to them by a fellow Ole Miss organization.

Ole Miss Athletics paid the sponsorship for the museum to help the museum grow.

“We just feel there is a really strong tie between the arts and athletics,” said Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Ross Bjork. “Our budget has grown. We had the means to be the sponsor. But we asked, how can we be unique and have our sponsorship mean more than just having the Ole Miss Athletics logo?”

The University Museum has been ranked as one of the 20 Best College Art Museums by Complex Art & Design and the No. 12 best college museum by Best College Reviews.

Funding for the museum comes from the University annual budget, contributed supports from multiple locations including donations and grants, and an earned income from museum admissions and the gift store.

“We’re really excited to partner with the University Museum and Ole Miss Athletics,” Stubbs said. “It’s a great fit for us being an arts festival to have our presenting sponsor as the museum.”

All promotional material will read, “The Double Decker Arts Festival presented by the University of Mississippi Museum.”

Stubbs said the museum and Ole Miss Athletics will also have their logos included on online promotions and linked to their perspective websites.

“We thought, what better way to give the museum more exposure and showcase all the great things they do?” Bjork said.

Applications for art vendors went live this week at www.doubledeckerfestival.com,

Artists will be vying for the most popular spots this year as vendor fees reflect where they are located on the Square. Those wishing to be on the inside of the Square could pay more than those located in the outer areas of the Square.

Deadline to apply is Jan. 26.

Visit Oxford will start taking applications for food vendors in February.

This year’s Double Decker Arts Festival will be held on April 28 and 29.

For more information, visit www.doubledeckerfestival.com.