It’s been a big year for Vashon Center for the Arts. The grassroots organization turned 50 in 2016, opened the doors to its $20 million arts center in April and will hold its art auction, “Come Together: Celebrating 50 Years,” in the new facility this weekend. But the icing on the artistic cake came when Governor Jay Inslee and the Washington State Arts Commission recently awarded the community nonprofit one of five Governor’s Arts & Heritage Awards.

“It’s not a financial award; rather it’s a public acknowledgement of what we do, like the Good Housekeeping Seal,” said Molly Reed, executive director of Vashon Center for the Arts (VCA). “It’s not just about who we are right now, it’s been 50 years. We started as a grassroots organization and have been evolving, but it’s about our consistent mission of serving this community. How could you not be impressed?”

In 2015, VCA showcased the work of 290 visual artists and held 97 performances and events with more than 10,500 attendees. It offered 144 arts and dance classes, enrolling 1,400 students and awarding $75,000 in scholarships, and it paid $360,000 to local artists, performers and teachers, which according to Reed, is almost one-third of VCA’s annual budget.

“It’s a ton of money,” she said. “For any individual, it may not be significant, but it contributes to their overall art income. We feature them in Island Arts (VCA’s monthly publication) and our website, so it is more than fees.”

At the annual art auction, VCA also spotlights six commissioned artists, in addition to showing works by more than 130 Vashon artists. Friday night’s commissioned artists will include Zuzana Korbelarova of Zuzuko Jewelry, who contributed a necklace, earring and ring set called “Vector.” Korbelarova’s work is sold in art museum stores around the Pacific Northwest, the West Coast and Chicago. Self-taught woodworker Ralph Moore has been selling his cutting boards at the Farmer’s Market for the past 10 years. His commissioned side table includes a live-edge holly slab from the old holly farm north of Vashon town. Oil painter Erin Schulz’s canvas “Peonies” demonstrates her intention to capture the first “instant of visual beauty” upon seeing her subject — in this case, peonies. She is a classically trained artist who studied at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute of Chongquing, China; the Gage Academy in Seattle; the Grand Central Academy in New York and at the Florence Academy of Arts in Italy.

Saturday’s commissioned artists will feature Darsie Beck, a self-taught sketch artist and sculptor inspired by maritime environments. His piece, a large soapstone sculpture of a California sea lion, was made in his Maury Island studio, Waterworks, which is featured on the Vashon Art Studio Tour. Jean Emmons is an award-winning botanical artist with two gold medals and a best-of-show award from the Royal Horticultural Society, London. She paints what she loves — plants — often growing them in her Vashon garden. She chose the iris called Superstition as the subject of her commissioned painting. David Kroll, represented by Woodside/Braseth Gallery in Seattle, has been painting for over 30 years. Combining still life and landscape, Kroll tries to “create an emotional and intellectual connection between the viewer and the power of landscape.”

New this year is the Celebrated Senior Artist Award given as a special “shout-out” to those who have consistently developed their art over the years and have been longtime supporters of VCA. Chosen by VCA Gallery Curator Janice Mallman and Reed, the recipient this year is David Erue, who welded a 5-foot tall heron out of metal to celebrate the 50th anniversary of VCA.

While the auction is a critical fundraiser for the organization — raising over $100,000 for scholarships last year — it also serves a greater purpose.

“The bonus is that once a year, you have this survey of work by a huge representation of the art community here all in one place,” Reed said, “so folks love it even if they don’t come to auction.”

Some people come to both nights of the auction, Reed said, which is attended primarily by islanders, with about 15 percent from off-island. The theme this year takes a nostalgic, 50-year look backward. Friday night’s celebration, “Yesterday,” will include a 1960s TV dinner — modernized with delicious food, Reed said.

While Friday night will sport more of a hippie theme — and patrons are encouraged to dress accordingly — Saturday night will be a nod toward the mod and the British Invasion. Both evenings will include a sit-down dinner catered by Herban Feast, signature cocktails and music of the era. Kevin Joyce will be Friday’s auctioneer, with David Silverman on for Saturday. Jeff Hoyt will emcee both evenings, and Steffon Moody will provide the entertainment.

With the new building comes a new configuration for the inaugural auction in the Katherine L White Hall, which has seen twice the usual number of visitors coming through its doors since May. The bar and silent auction tables will be set up in the hall, while the dining and auction will take place in a tent outside the building’s east entrance.

“There are changes that come from just being in a new space,” Reed said, “but it will be great fun like it always is.”

Doors open for both Friday and Saturday auctions at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at vashoncenterforthearts.org.