ArtsBall Miami Takes Place at Lyme Academy College

Enjoy Contemporary Cuban Cuisine, Salsa Dancing, and Stunning Decor at ArtsBall Miami: Art & Attitude

This coming Saturday, June 1, Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts is hosting around 400 guests from throughout the region for a memorable evening “under the tents” at the College’s annual gala for student scholarships, this year titled, ArtsBall Miami: Art & Attitude. This exciting celebration, inspired by the spicy culture and glamorous style of Miami, will be held under a series of lavishly decorated tents where guests will enjoy cocktails, dinner, dancing, and a silent auction offering a diverse array of art and non-art items.

ArtsBall Miami: Art & Attitude will re-create the magic of Miami, the crossroads of the international artworld and a work of art in itself. In every element – breath-taking installation by luminous glass artist Mundy Hepburn, dramatic entrance to the College, over-the-top bar, a wildly-decorated tent and dance floor, professional Salsa dancers, plus some special surprises.

The event will capture and celebrate the high style and energy of this art mecca and provide guests with an exceptional evening, promising once again to be the most exciting night on this year’s Lyme-Old Lyme social calendar.

Cocktails, including an open bar and enticing hors d’oeuvres, begin at 5:30 p.m. accompanied by an extensive silent auction that is renowned for its remarkable and varied selection of high-quality art, as well as its range of unique items and special event packages. Again this year, the College will offer guests a Buy It Now! auction option in which one may stop the bidding early by purchasing the item at its Buy It Now! price. The auction will end promptly at 8 p.m. before dinner.

A magnificent dinner featuring the wonderful fusion of flavors of contemporary Cuban cuisine will be catered by Jonathan Rapp’s River Tavern, the Chester restaurant known for its innovative cooking using quality, farm-fresh ingredients.

Infusing the evening with an artsy beach attitude, the talented interior designer Lisa Schroeder’s original décor promises to evoke the awe-inspiring beauty and tropical oasis of Miami Beach.

The ArtsBall Miami: Art & Attitude scholarship fundraising gala for the Lyme Academy College of FineArts, will take place on Saturday, June 1, beginning at 5:30 p.m. on the College’s campus at 84 Lyme Street in Old Lyme, Conn. Tickets for the full evening are $150 per person. A range of additional ticket options is also available. Suggested attire is Miami Chic, Festive, or Black Tie.

All net proceeds from the event benefit student scholarships.  Founded in 1976 and accredited for the BFA degree in 1996, the College has not yet had a long history in which to build its endowment. It therefore looks to the community for support, especially with regard to its scholarship funds. More than 90 percent of the College’s degree-seeking students receive financial assistance.

Corporate sponsors for this year’s event include Essex Savings Bank and Essex Financial Services, Inc., Outthink, Venü Magazine, The Herb Chambers Companies, Essex Meadows Lifecare Retirement Community, The Xerox Foundation, The Gallery at Firehouse Square, Sennheiser Electronic LLC, Shepherd, Finkelman, Miller & Shah LLP, AT&T, The Day Publishing Company, Mohegan Sun, Patricia Spratt for the Home, Saybrook Point Inn & Spa, Stanley Black & Decker, and Webster Bank.

The College greatly appreciates their generosity and that of numerous additional sponsors who have donated in-kind goods or services, auction items or financial contributions.

Contact the College’s Vice-President of Development Fritz Jellinghaus at 860.434.3571 ext 125 to discuss additional sponsorship opportunities.

For further information about the event or to purchase tickets, contact Ann de Selding at 860.434.3571, ext. 117, or visit www.lymeacademy.edu.

For additional information about the College and its programs, call 860.434.3571, ext. 135

Editor’s Note: Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts continues the tradition of fine art in southeastern Connecticut begun by the Lyme Art Colony at the start of the twentieth century. The fully- accredited College provides students with a solid foundation in figurative and representational fine art while preparing them for a lifetime of creative practice in the contemporary world.  The College offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs in drawing, illustration, painting, and sculpture and Post-Baccalaureate and three-year Certificate programs.  The small student body allows for a more personal education and an intimate artistic community.