A Big Weekend for the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
$100,000 donation from Calvin R. Vander Woude Highlights Annual “Rouge”
Fundraising Gala that netted an additional $ 180,000 for the Museum
www.svma.org
9 August 2010 – Sonoma, CA: Call it an early holiday present – for the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (www.svma.org) and the community it serves. And, what better place to give a gift than at a party! On Saturday night at the Museum’s annual “Rouge” fundraising party, local entrepreneur and Museum board member Calvin R. Vander Woude announced a strategic donation of $100,000, specifically to expand the Museum’s education and public programs. Starting this fall, the “Calvin R. Vander Woude Lively Arts Series” will become an important new fixture on the North Bay’s cultural calendar.
The donation announcement gave an extra air of excitement to the Museum’s annual gala dinner and auction. In addition to the Vander Woude gift, the sold-out event netted more than $ 180,000 for the Museum’s operations as well as specific contributions towards opening café and renovating classroom space.
“Cal has been an enlightened philanthropist, and always a visionary leader on our board. This gift helps us educate a new generation of museum-goers and art lovers.” said Museum Executive Director Kate Eilertsen. “We are creating a place where art is accessible with a museum that is active and lively every day. This generous gift makes that goal a reality.”
Starting immediately, the Museum will expand its series of lectures for all age groups. Additionally, the grant will fund the establishment of a new “Meet the Artist” series allowing for curators and artists to engage more directly with school and young audiences. Down the road, there are plans for a performing arts series, in-school classes, “hands-on” art making projects for students and establishment of a computerized resource center within the Museum.
“The gift came about as a result of the strategic planning process the museum just went through where everyone realized increasing the education and public programs was where we needed to focus,” said Vander Woude. “This made it a worthy investment for now and future use. The life of a museum is both within and without its walls. My hope is that this gift will not only provide for increased docent tours within the Museum, but the establishment of more creative, risk taking, challenging public programs for everyone.”
“Rouge!” lived up to its reputation as the art season’s most eagerly anticipated event. The sold-out dinner and auction featured a Parisian cabaret theme with food, décor and entertainment of Gallic proportions. Guests were treated to an evening of great art - both Moulin Rouge themed and contemporary - along with fabulous French food, cheeses and desserts prepared by The Girl and the Fig. This being the heart of wine country, several of Sonoma County’s finest vintners donated wines to accompany the meal. In addition, there were several several bidding wars on auction items and the crowd was very supportive of the “Fund A Need” portion of the evening, giving $46,000 to support renovation at the museum to provide classroom space. Sponsors for the event were Union Bank and Barbed Oak Vineyard.
Next up at the Museum is the Visions of Paradise exhibit, August 21 through November 7, 2010.
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