Director’s Letter

What’s coming up at The Art Center? During the challenging last year, The Art Center has continued serving the community by providing access to the arts in every way possible. A year ago, we postponed our annual benefit and fine art auction for six months so that we could hold it in person. But low and behold, the virus had other plans for us and, to paraphrase Robert Burns, “The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry.” Our Fall benefit ended up being a digital event. It was surprisingly successful, but just didn’t have the same excitement and fun that our 2019 benefit, Paint the Town – and All that Jazz, did when everyone was live and in person. Now we’re planning our 2021 benefit and, obviously, we are not holding it during its normal Spring timeslot. Instead, we’re holding it on September 25, 2021 with the hope of having an in-person gala event! However, we’re also making contingencies just in case Mesa County doesn’t see the improvement and recovery we all expect and so desperately want. If need be, we’ll hold it on-line or make it a hybrid event. But we’re hoping for the best! So, I wanted to take a minute and tell you a little bit about what we have planned. Two years ago, we switched things up from our traditional fine art auction, because so many supporters had told us that they wanted something new. And new it was! Paint the Town - and All That Jazz was a huge hit, complete with Broadway show tunes, a champagne toast, and a shorter and livelier auction. Last year, the plan was to hold an April 18th benefit called Paint the Town – A Night in Paris. But the pandemic put an end to that. Not to be thwarted, this September 25th, we will be hosting Paint the Town – The Great Heist! – hopefully live and in person. Paint the Town – The Great Heist will be a benefit gala, show, and fine art auction (both live and silent auctions) to benefit your Art Center. The premise will be a fine art auction in 1927 held in a glamorous hotel ballroom (think The Great Gatsby) and will feature show tunes and other entertainment. Guests will be encouraged to dress in their finest 1920s attire. And, to add a little extra excitement, it will also be an interactive “who done it,” mystery. Guests may, if they wish, play a role in the show and help solve the mystery of the Great Heist. Taking part in the mystery will be completely voluntary, but we hope some of our patrons and guests will join in on the fun and play a part. The Art Center Guild will be serving wonderful hors d'oeuvres; we’ll have two bars with beer, wine, soft drinks and some fun 1920s-themed cocktails, and, of course, we’ll have wonderful artwork and other exciting items up for bid in the silent and live auctions – all to benefit The Art Center.

I don’t want to give too much away, but that should give you an idea of the efforts we’re making to be sure you and your guests have a great night out, while supporting your Art Center and the vital mission it performs for the Grand Valley. Please continue to check our website and read Art Matters and the monthly postcards for information about all the fun exhibitions, classes and events we have planned. And thank you for your support of The Art Center and the arts on the Western Slope.