For those who believe arts and culture are the glue that can hold a community together, there’s a new event coming in June that you will want to pay attention to. The Cattaraugus County Arts Council (CCAC) will launch its first annual “Celebration of the Arts” cocktail party on Saturday, June 6 from 6-9pm at the Bartlett Country Club in Olean, NY.
Awards will be presented to local individuals and organizations in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Allegany Counties. The categories: Lifetime Achievement, Distinguished Artist of the Year, Emerging Talent, Supporter of the Arts & Culture, and Volunteer of the Year. In addition, the arts council will also present the DEC Regrant Program of the Year award. (Nominations can still be made until May 4.)
Celebration of the Arts is expected to be CCAC’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The evening will feature live music by Ade Adu, complimentary wine and beer, a silent art auction, scrumptious hors d’oeuvres, a sprawling dessert buffet, and door prizes. An art raffle will take place throughout the night to give away five original works of art with a total value of over $10,000. The generous donors include local artists Jason Green, Barbara Fox, Mikel Wintermantel, and Thomas Annear.
TICKET INFORMATION
General Admission tickets to the Celebration of the Arts cocktail party are $50 and include entry into door prize drawings. VIP tickets are $100 which includes entry into door prize drawings and a raffle ticket towards the chance to win one of the original art pieces. VIP ticket holders may purchase additional raffle tickets for $25 a piece, with no limit on the number purchased. Participants do not have to be present to win.
“The event raises critical funds for CCAC,” according to the arts council’s Executive Director, Tina Hasting. “I encourage all that are interested in supporting the arts and culture scene to purchase tickets, even if you can’t attend the event.”
Tickets can be purchased through May 22 at www.myartscouncil.net (the arts council’s website). Those interested can also email tina@myartscouncil.net or call 716-372-7455.
THE COUNCIL
The Cattaraugus County Arts Council has been improving the quality of life in the Southern Tier through the promotion of culture and the arts for 17 years. The not-for-profit organization offers classes for all ages, support for artists, and administers grants from various sources. Its goal is to make this beautiful region a more stimulating and interesting place to live, work, and raise families.
“Arts are vital to a vibrant community,” commented Mikel Wintermantel. “There is a need to keep arts and crafts alive in the minds of our youth, to inspire people of all ages, and to provide a place where anyone can go to exercise their creative minds.” Wintermantel shared that his entire family uses the arts council’s services - his partner practices ceramics (which she learned from arts council pottery teacher Peter Jones), and his daughter volunteers with the organization to help younger children during workshops. “I support the CCAC wholeheartedly,” he continued. “I feel that an organization that services the arts as thoroughly and abundantly as the arts council deserves everyone’s support.”
More information about the Cattaraugus County Arts Council can be found at the website listed above. Guests are invited to stop by the CCAC gallery at 100 West Main Street in Allegany, NY weekdays between 9am and 4pm. Membership and business sponsorship information, as well as award nomination forms for the Celebration of the Arts event are available there. While you’re there, be sure to sign up for CCAC’s event newsletters, and stay in the loop with the region’s arts and culture scene.
