It’s art auction time again at Vashon Center for the Arts — launching Friday, Sept. 2 with a month-long silent auction of art and culminating in a gala live auction and dinner Saturday, Sept. 24.
This year marks the 45th anniversary of the gala auction — the biggest fundraising benefit for the arts on Vashon, where islanders are asked to support the venerable arts center and raise their paddles in support of VCA’s Blue Heron Education Center and Scholarship Fund.
At the Blue Heron, VCA provides enriching and affordable educational experiences for all families with year-round classes and instruction in arts education, dance, music, and the performing arts.
Support from the community is as critical and vital to VCA’s operations as ever, said Allison Halstead-Reid, the executive director of the organization.
“Our programs continue to move forward but audiences continue to remain below pre-pandemic levels and the requests for scholarships have grown,” Reid said. “VCA needs a strong turnout and lots of bidding at this year’s auction for us to meet our goals.”
Attendance at performing arts events is still significantly down nationwide in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, spanning major venues including Broadway to local presenters in small cities and rural communities, according to a Sunday, Aug. 21 article in The New York Times.
VCA’s fundraising effort starts on First Friday, with the opening of the silent auction of work by more than 100 artists.
The silent auction items can continue to be viewed in person in the VCA Gallery during public hours, noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, or online at vcamaxgiving.bid, where guests can register and bid. All bidding will be online, through this site.
The big night on Sept. 24, a masquerade ball, will be hosted by Martha Enson and Kevin Joyce, of EnJoy Productions. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. to what VCA is billing as “a magical soiree where winged creatures alight, dazzling artists and performers entertain, and intriguing games abound.”
Guests will be asked to COVID-19 test prior to attending the event, where masks will be recommended but not required.
Tickets to the Sept. 24 gala, $50 per person or $175 per person including dinner, can also be purchased on the website or at VCA’s box office.
