February 5, 2016 at 2:55 p.m.
ArtStart to celebrate fifth anniversary with gala event
ArtStart to celebrate fifth anniversary with gala event
By Kayla Thomason-
Social hour, complete with appetizers and a cash bar, will start at 5 p.m. The appetizers will include meatballs, creamy spinach dip, and crunchy water chestnuts wrapped in bacon.
An Italian-themed dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Guests will enjoy one of three different types of lasagna, Caesar salad, Italian-seasoned vegetables, and for dessert a slice of anniversary cake made by a local baker.
After the meal, guests can hit the dance floor and move to the sounds of the Central Wisconsin Jazz Ensemble.
"We wanted music that we don't often have the opportunity to hear up here and something danceable," said Melinda Childs, Artstart's development director. "We have been working with the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra on some other projects and some of these musicians play for both. It should really be a great night of standards and Big Band dance music."
The event will also include a live auction with prizes including a guided fishing trip by canoe and a shore lunch, bookshelves and a rocking horse made by inmates at McNaughton Correctional, Green Bay Packers tickets, a pair of snowshoes, private cooking lessons for four from Chef Tom at CT's Deli, and more.
There will also be a Liquor Locker up for grabs. Guests can buy a key for a chance to open the locker. The winner gets all the goods inside.
ArtStart will also be selling commemorative pint and wine glasses.
Volunteers and guests will celebrate the growth that ArtStart has experienced since organizers went to the city of Rhinelander with a plan to convert the former Federal Building on Stevens Street into an arts and cultural center.
The number of shows the gallery hosts every year has stayed about the same, however the center's reach now spreads across the Midwest, bringing diverse art to Rhinelander and people of all ages.
"In 2016 we are excited to announce some partnerships with the Museum of Russian Art in Minneapolis and we believe it is our growing reputation that makes collaborations like that possible," Childs said.
ArtStart offers a broad range of activities from music, community discussions, films and events to art classes for children, and more.
The children's art classes have expanded youngsters' understanding and passion for various media, Childs said. This program has also allowed them to learn from area artists.
ArtStart also houses some local art businesses such as The Northwoods School of Dance and two music teachers.
Childs credits ArtStart's many dedicated volunteers with nurturing the center over the past five years.
"We are really excited to celebrate five years," she said. "Many volunteers have worked hard over the years to bring art and cultural activities to Rhinelander and many donors have believed in what art can do for our community. We were recently awarded the nonprofit of the year award by the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce and that was a great honor. We are here really as more than an art center but also as a community builder and the chamber award was nice recognition of that."
Tickets for the gala cost $50 and Childs is hoping approximately 150 guests attend.
Tickets are available by calling (715) 362-4328 or emailing [email protected].
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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