A night of dancing, music and high style is set to enchant Vernonites, all in support of the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre.
The Beaux-Arts Ball is a costume and dress-up event inspired by the bohemian milieu of the left bank in Paris, which brought together artists, musicians, dancers, connoiseurs, impresarios and culture enthusiasts for evenings dedicated to stylish, exuberant fun.
The Beaux-Arts Ball is more than just an event 鈥� it's part of a local grassroots effort that champions creativity, heritage and artistic endeavour.
Funds raised from the event will go directly towards the Greater Vernon Cultural Centre's development.
The multi-faceted evening will see ticket holders hopping around downtown locations, taking in the arts at each stop.
The ball takes place Saturday, May 24, and for early birds, the fun starts at The Med Restaurant with duo Voix du Coeur, featuring soprano Jay LaFlamme and tenor/violinist Denis Letourneau of the Okanagan Symphony, from 4-5 p.m. Cheek to Cheek Dance Studio will be offering a tango demonstration, also from 4-5 p.m.
Singer Tanya Lipscomb will be performing at Ratio Coffee from 5-6 p.m. and the main event takes place at the Elks Lodge (3103-30th Street), where the doors open at 6 p.m. and the dance begins at 7:10 p.m., featuring music by the Okanagan Big Band.
鈥淐ome dressed to impress, ready to dance, and prepared to make a difference," said Julie Oakes, community volunteer organizer. "We look forward to seeing you all at the Beaux-Arts Ball 鈥� a night where elegance meets purpose, and every step you take on the dance floor helps to build a brighter future for Vernon鈥檚 cultural community.鈥�
The official fundraising campaign for the Cultural Centre was launched last month, and the Beaux-Arts Ball is one of its first major fundraising events.
The proposal for the Cultural Centre originally passed in 2018 with a referendum to borrow money for its construction, though after nearly seven years of delays and red tape, the project's cost has escalated. That 2018 referendum authorized the borrowing of $25 million. A 2022 alternate approval process bumped that up to $28 million, but as of this year, the cost has ballooned to $46 million.
That means the fundraising campaign is essential in getting the project across the finish line at a minimal impact to taxpayers.
Oakes said her team had $5.3 million to raise and so far they've accomplished more than one-third of that, thanks in large part to a $1 million pledge from the Galbraith Family Foundation in April.
The goal is to raise $10,000 from the Beaux-Arts Ball. Tickets are available for $107.83 with all proceeds going to the Cultural Centre. Only 100 tickets are available and they're selling fast. They can be purchased at Eventbrite by searching for Beaux-Arts Ball. Posters around town also have a QR code that can be scanned to buy tickets.
The ever-fashionable Oakes is excited for the event; she already has her dress picked out.
She added there will be a surprise emcee 鈥� she didn't say who, only that they are a local celebrity with a claim to fame tied to Broadway musicals.
The Cultural Centre is a hub that, once built, will aim to foster creativity, community, engagement and the arts in the Greater Vernon area. It will be built right next to the Elks Lodge in downtown Vernon and construction is set to begin this summer. To learn more about the project, visit together4culture.ca.
