EBS STAFF
The Arts Council of Big Sky will host its 14th annual Auction for the Arts fundraising gala on Thursday, Feb. 19, at the Center for the Arts. The Mardi Gras-themed event begins at 5 p.m. and serves as the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year.
The evening will feature live and silent auctions, food and drink, live music and a “quick-finish” event in which eight artists—including Amber Blazina, Carrie Wild, Elizabeth Mordensky, Jack Schnepf, Adam Schwankl, Hannah Uhde, Rilie Zumbrennen and Judd Thompson—will complete artwork live during the event. Their completed works will be auctioned live during the gala.
The silent auction includes more than 90 juried pieces of varying medium, from paintings and photography to jewelry and sculpture. Bidding for the silent auction opens at 5 p.m. on Feb. 6, available to both those attending, and unable to attend in-person, and will remain open through the live event. The Arts Council will host two public preview events on Feb. 6 and Feb. 13 at the Center for the Arts offering an early look at live auction pieces available for bidding. The drop-in preview evenings are free and open to the public.
Proceeds from the auction support the Arts Council’s education programs, including its Contribute-What-You-Can class fee structure, which is designed to make arts education more accessible. According to the organization, more than 60% of class participants use the reduced-fee option, particularly in youth programs such as preschool, afterschool and summer camps.
“Along with the rest of our programs, our educational offerings continue to grow,” Arts Council Executive Director Brian Hurlbut said in a press release. “We’re serving more and more community members each year, and we’re excited for what the future holds.”
The Arts Council currently operates classrooms at the BASE Community Center and the Center for the Arts and serves more than 1,000 participants annually. Long-term plans for the Center for the Arts include additional classrooms, performance venues, a gallery, a radio station, a recording studio and a rooftop event space.
“Raising additional funds for our education program will allow it to thrive,” Hurlbut said. “We want to provide access to the arts for everyone.”
Tickets to the gala are available through the Arts Council’s website.
