Music, art part of fine arts benefit
By By Jonathan Stinson, Hartselle Enquirer
The Hartselle Fine Arts Center will hold its eighth annual Benefit Dinner May 3 to help raise money to fund programs for the Fine Arts Center and renovations to the Fine Arts Center.
The dinner is the Arts Center’s largest fundraiser of the year. Over the years, supporters have managed to raise more than $350,000 for the renovations. Most of the money has been spent to repair the building.
In the past year, the council has repainted the walls and ceilings, replaced some of the roof and installed heating and air conditioning on the main floor, RaJane Hampton, the publicity chair said. They have also made improvements to the balcony and hope to put in an elevator to make the building more accessible.
Organizers hope this year’s event will bring in about $20,000 from the auction and the dinner combined.
The silent auction will feature donated items ranging from a refrigerator donated by General Electric to paintings made by local artists.
New to the auction this year will be a treasure chest that contains gift certificates to local restaurants. The certificates will allow the person to eat free twice a day for 30 days. In order to when the certificates a person must by a key, which sell for $15 a piece or $20 for two. If the key unlocks the chest then the person will win the certificates.
The Hartselle High School Jazz Band and other students from the school will provide entertainment. This year’s theme for the dinner is a focus on swing music. Also, on Sunday there will be a $5 matinee featuring the performers from the dinner.
Tickets for the dinner cost $50 per person and can be purchased at the door. For more information contact Tammy Moss at 773-0708.
The Arts Center is located in the old F.E. Burleson building located at 307 College Street Northeast in Hartselle. In 2001, the building was the oldest operating school facility in Alabama until the school moved to its new campus at 1100 Bethel road. The building was built in 1916 and it is the goal of the Arts Council to preserve its historical integrity and provide a place for the people of Hartselle to explore and enjoy the arts.
