NORWALK, CT — On Thursday, guests are invited to join the Norwalk Art Space for a night of lively music, art exhibits, tasty food and cocktails during its annual “arts bash” fundraising event.
All proceeds for the event will go toward the art space’s art education program for under-served local students.
According to Executive Director Duvian Montoya, the annual event was designed to be different from a typical fundraiser.
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“With so many creative people around the art space,” Montoya said in an email to Patch, “our co-chairs and committee thought it would be best to think outside the box and create a fun new program that will entice others to give and support our free art and music programs. This is our only ticketed event throughout the year, and it will hopefully raise the funds needed to sustain our free year-long programming.”
Guests who purchase a ticket to the open event can enjoy live music performed by Rick Reyes’ six-piece band and Cosmic Jibaros throughout the night, as well as performances by students and staff from the art space’s free Petty-Drayton Music Program.
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Guests can also enjoy food from Marcia Selden Catering, renowned chef Bill Taibe and the Art Space Cafe as they view art displays from the space’s resident artists and students.
According to Montoya, those in attendance are encouraged to dress in colorful cocktail attire as they enjoy a fun and colorful night.
“This event highlights all the great aspects of what we do here at the Norwalk Art Space,” Montoya said. “Great regional art, music, food, positivity and, most of all, the great people of our community, from artists to politicians [to] sponsors and students. We’ll be celebrating our great supportive community that sustains our free programs.”
The arts bash will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Norwalk Art Space, located at 455 West Avenue. Tickets for the event are $175 each and can be purchased here.
The annual celebration comes just before the art space celebrates its second anniversary, having opened in June 2021.
While the art space has hosted a number of events over the past two years and introduced many people to the great artistic talents throughout the Norwalk area, it is the space’s educational programs that will have long-lasting effects for generations, according to Montoya.
See also: Norwalk Art Space Officially Opens To The Public
“The success I see in our classroom is all the success I need to see,” Montoya said. “We’ve watched students be shy and quiet individuals in the back of class to students who perform in front of 50-70 peers at teen nights or in front of hundreds at art openings. That is what keeps us all so dedicated to the art space.”
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The art space team will also introduce its third year of Korry Fellows and resident artists Thursday, who Montoya noted are the individuals that will continue their mission of offering free art education to kids.
“The art community needed an exhibition space that highlighted the talents of our area and this beautiful building has been a calling card for all to be a part of,” Montoya said. “By highlighting the area’s great artists, we’ve created a family-like environment for all creatives to be a part of and learn from. This environment supports and nurtures the young to the old and celebrates the beauty and individualism of us all. Community and acceptance has been a beautiful thing to watch develop here.”
Montoya said the art space is always open to developing new programming and, in the coming months, will expand its class offerings.
“We are not just creating the next Picasso in our classes,” Montoya said, “but developing confident, bold and creative students that can be successful in any career choice they want to choose, and we want to expand the idea of where creative thinking can lead them.”
More details about the arts bash can be found here.
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