No.Fest was conceived in April, 2008 between Sean Ongley, Chad Ferguson, and Jeffrey Helwig, as a day-long, 2 stage music event for downtown St. Johns. The trio began integrating the idea in to daily life, rather naive of the tremendous work ahead -- not thinking, just doing. The idea tumbled in to a 4 stage affair with 25 performances, to be held on Summer Solstice that year (only 3 months following conception). In such short time, the trio scrambled together a unique program including spoken arts. Sean brought KBOO on as cosponsor, who offered promotion and a partial live broadcast from the square. The event became known as "No.Fest: Nu.Music.Arts": on June 21st, 2008, the annual was born.

In November 2008, the aforementioned trio began to brainstorm toward 2009. By January, KBOO lifted No.Fest to a new level with the elevator of fiscal sponsorship, giving No.Fest a temporary 501(c)(3) organization to work within. Chad stepped back from organizing, leaving Sean and Jeffrey to lead an ad hoc army of volunteers and pro-bono helpers. www.nofest.net, program booklets, company cargo van, sound-stage, and infrastructure manifested with diligence and help from many friends and volunteers. KBOO stepped up for a full 9-hour broadcast, and on June 27th, No.Fest doubled its audience with 43 performances in 8 venues: new children's programming, movement arts, and musical diversity colored the calendar. However many hundred hours we prepared for No.Fest '09, it was over in a flash, but all of us stood on a new, solid foundation.

Following the excitement, Jeffrey and Sean realized something greater than themselves: a cross-cultural event elevating peace and friendship for hundreds of artists and thousands of witnesses. Inspiration struck to make this even more cross-cultural, more cross-disciplinary, more organized; friends urging the duo to go for 501(c)(3) status, in September 2009 and committed to the possibility, Sean and Jeffrey registered with Oregon as a not-for-profit corporation: InterArts. Now as corporate officers, Sean and Jeffrey hurdle toward June 25th/26th with the same DIY ethic that has propelled so much innovation throughout time. And with an ever-expanding team, InterArts will file for 501(c)(3) non-profit status within 2010 and No.Fest will be the annual major event for the company while curating year-round.

2008 Founders and Organizers:
Chad Ferguson, Jeffree Helwig, Sean Ongley
2009 Organizers: Jeffree Helwig, Sean Ongley
2010 Organizers: Jeffree Helwig, Sean Ongley,Erik Trexel