The Columbus Arts Council’s annual gala takes a westward track this year with Jeans & Jewels on Saturday, April 26. The event to be held at Milton Sundbeck’s Town Creek Pavilion on Highway 50 East will help continue CAC art classes, exhibits, children’s theater, camps and musical and educational programming throughout the year.
“We hope the community will come and support the Columbus Arts Council’s gala and auction,” said CAC Executive Director Tina Sweeten-Lunsford. “It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year, and it is what helps keep the arts alive in Columbus and Lowndes County.”
Attire is “cowboy couture” for the event beginning at 6:30 p.m. and featuring silent and live auctions, food by The Ritz, raffles and music. Pam Russell serves as gala chair, assisted by committee members Sheila Clark, Cathy Coleman, Jerry Hodson, Sandy Imes, Beth Keene, Fred Kinder, Ralph Null and David Sanders.
“The place is fabulous, an auction barn that’s state of the art and still brand new,” said Sheila Clark. “We’ll have lots of room for people to mingle or dance, and we’ll all be in one space.” “Anything goes” when it comes to dress, she added — a chance for men to don their cowboy boots and women to mix bling and jeans.
Gala highlights
In the live auction, bidders can vie for round trip tickets to anywhere Delta flies in the continental U.S., courtesy of the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. Also up for bid will be hot air balloon rides, redeemable at more than 200 locations nationwide; a six-course gourmet dinner with wines and live music; a sunset river cruise for 12, with cocktails and heavy appetizers; and a wild hog hunt.
The silent auction includes original artwork from artists including Elayne Goodman, Sheila Clark, Angelika Robinson, Bruce Hufford, Clay Paradiso and more; getaways to locations including Smith Lake and Watercolor, Fla.; gym memberships, gift cards, home decor and much more. Raffle tickets will be sold at the gala for designated items.
Menu highlights include grilled chicken skewers with Parmesan-buttermilk-honey mustard- and bourbon chili, western burger sliders, grilled vegetables, appetizer snacks and desserts.
Early evening live music will be provided by Paul Brady, followed later by DJ Bill Gavin, with music for dancing.
The fundraiser is critical to the arts council’s effort to “present, promote, support and inspire” visual and performing arts in Columbus and the surrounding area. “Research shows that the arts provide economic, social and cultural benefits to the community,” said Sweeten-Lunsford. “Not only do they increase a sense of collective identity, they bring people together who might not otherwise come in contact. They improve the community.”
How to go
Tickets are $60 per person at the Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main St., open Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Or call 662-328-2787 to purchase tickets. Tables for 10 may be reserved in advance. Requested deadline for ticket purchase is Wednesday, April 16.
Town Creek Pavilion is located at 32476 Highway 50 E., 3.3 miles west of the Highway 50 river bridge.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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