On Sept. 7, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Perkins Center for the Arts will be holding its fall fundraiser Arts Under the Stars. The family-friendly event has gone through an evolution over the last few years and will now be showcasing all of the different forms of art the center offers.
“The Arts Under the Stars fundraiser is an evolution of the fundraisers we used to do,” said event coordinator Kahra Buss. “This is the first time we are doing this particular event. We wanted to do this because we had the intent to provide people with the opportunity to experience art on a variety of levels.
“Perkins Center for the Arts promotes artistic expression,” Buss continued. “Everything is art and with the fundraiser we have access to the community. We thought, what better way to showcase that than to opening up center to public and showing them everything we have to offer?”
Perkins Center for the Arts offers a multitude of programs for both youth and adults. The organization offers classes such as drawing and painting classes, observational drawing, mixed media art, comic book illustration, Asian art for kids, painting with colored pencils, comic character design, pottery, clay for kids, introduction to acrylic painting and much more.
A summary and list of each class that the organization can be found at Perkinsart.org.
“Art is part of everything we do,” said Buss. “I think the most important thing that art provides is a means of expression. Art connects to everyone whether you realize it or not. I have yet to come across a person that doesn’t resonate with some for of music, photography, story, book or video.
“Telling a story or listening are all different art forms,” said Buss. “With part of the event, we are inviting a ghost story teller. We are inviting astronomers to talk about the artistic nature of the celestial. We will be creating a galaxy mural. A make your own patio lantern. We want to highlight the education of art.”
For those wanting to support the Arts Under the Stars fundraiser, tickets are available on the Perkins Center for the Arts website under the events tab. Tickets are $25 per person and a $100 for families of five or more. All of the proceeds from the event will go into the Pekins Center’s education programming so that they are able to continue creating different programs about art while remaining affordable to the community.
“Art in a community promotes a sense of confidence,” said Buss. “It teaches self-worth to individuals who engage in art. It’s actually shown that those who engage in art are mentally and physically healthier. Individuals that embrace art more connected to their communities, and communities that foster these things are more sustainable. The Arts Under the Stars fundraiser is an opportunity to showcase art and gives us a chance to build healthier communities.”
