Campus News

Georgia Museum of Art to host biennial fundraising gala

The Georgia Museum of Art at UGA will host its most important fundraiser Jan. 31. Elegant Salute XIV, “An Elegant Salute to Georgia,” is the museum’s biennial gala featuring a reception, dinner, dessert and dancing.

Hosted by the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art, the museum’s membership program, this year’s gala will highlight the museum’s distinction as the official state museum of art and celebrate Georgia’s rich heritage of art, agriculture and natural beauty.

The evening will begin with a reception in the Jane and Harry Willson Sculpture Garden. Hors d’oeuvres will be followed by dinner catered by Epting Events in the M. Smith Griffith Grand Hall. Following dinner, guests will return to the sculpture garden at 9:30 p.m. for dessert and dancing at the after-party featuring DJs Alfredo and Zdog.

The after-party is themed “Get Your Pucci On” in celebration of the museum’s exhibition Emilio Pucci in America, on view through Feb. 1. Guests of the after-party are encouraged to wear Pucci-inspired clothing. Guests can track postings or join in on the conversation about the after-party using #getyourpuccion on Instagram and Twitter.

The museum relies on private donations to fund programming and exhibitions, making this event vital to the museum’s success. The Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art hopes to raise $155,000 in support this year. The net proceeds will support all of the museum’s exhibitions and educational programming.

Tickets for the event are sold in two tiers: full event or after-party. Tickets for the full event are $300 and can be purchased until Jan. 21. Tickets for the after party only are $50 for members and $65 for nonmembers; they allow entry for the dessert and dancing in the sculpture garden. The after-party tickets can be purchased until Jan. 28. All tickets can be purchased online at http://bit.ly/gmoa-es2015 or from Michele Turner, director of membership, at maturner@uga.edu or 706-542-0830.