COLUMBUS, Ind. — Fundraising flourished in a big way Saturday as a crowd of 250 people generated an estimated gross of $224,043 at the Columbus Area Arts Council’s annual Uncommon Cause dinner and auction event at Harrison Lake Country Club.
Organizers said they expect to have a net total within the next two weeks, though donations are still coming in. Proceeds go to a range of the arts council’s programming.
“I consider this to be a huge success,” said Brooke Hawkins, the arts council’s executive director. “I think it shows that people are excited about our work, and believe in our work and the impact that we have on the community.”
The arts council’s is known for everything from First Fridays for Families children-oriented events to art exhibitions at the 411 Gallery downtown to hands-on art classes and workshops.
Saturday’s theme was “Flourishing Through Art,” complete with a best-dressed contest in two categories. Jeremy Hostetler topped the floral fashion category and Whitney Hartwell won for creative costume.
The event, complete with live music, also featured a first — local artist Peter Gethin Thomas creating a 50-inch by 38-inch charcoal work live at the event, then auctioning it for $9,000.
A special Fund A Need auction for the arts council’s plans to introduce programming for mental health raised $70,000.
“I was hoping that the community would rally behind this,” Hawkins said, “because it is so aligned with so any other initiatives in our community addressing the mental health crisis.”
Columbus Regional Health has been among the larger entities locally emphasizing mental health care in recent years.
Erin Hawkins, a past arts council board president and current board member of nonprofit counseling agency Family Service Inc., said that support was heartening.
“I think that people are hearing of this need from so many different angles,” she said. “So I saw this as a very smart move for the arts council to carefully align with that in the community.”
A pop-up store featuring a variety of local artists’ work also was popular, according to organizers.
For the complete story and more photos, see Wednesday’s Republic.
