Editor’s note: This story was updated Friday (06-21-24) with the correct location of the event.
BROOKINGS Its planners and doers Executive Director Rachel Funk and Operations Manager Eileen Binkley at the Brookings Arts Council are noting that its a first-time event that they want to go annual: a Block Party Arts Fundraiser.
This is a new idea were trying this year and if it goes well, we hope to make it an annual event, Binkley explained. One of Rachels and my goals for the BAC is to bring in a younger audience: young families, even kids. We want everyone to know theyre welcome here.
Thats not to say we dont want our current patrons to leave; we just want to embrace a larger cross-section of our community. We dont have an event that targets families or young people; so we thought we could host this block party as an outdoor event. Well have all these activities outside of our building and food.
The hope is that people will come for the event and then take a tour of the building, see Amanda Bergs show thats up right now. Well have a membership booth, hoping to gain some new members and just let people know this isnt just an art gallery for serious, quiet people. We want to have some fun, too.
Ton of events
The event is a fundraiser with the money raised going directly to the BAC. Tickets are $20 per adult. Kids 0 to 14 are Free with an adult! The venue is outdoors in a cordoned off area next to the BAC building at 524 Fourth St. The date is June 27 (Thursday); the time is 5 to 7 p.m.
We have a ton of events going on, Binkley said. The big draw is Live Art by Chuck Bennis. Hes a well-known regional artist and also a BAC board member. His canvas is big and his subjects prolific.
Other big draws include a screen painting demo by someone from CleanSlate Design + Print and live music from Jon Bakken of Tiger Meat Music Zine. Binkley said, Hes loved by all, for sure.
Binkley and Funk add to those headliners a ton of events for attendees to check out and enjoy: Shop from local artist vendors, grab dinner from food trucks, enjoy live music and art making, yard games, face painting and more while learning what the BAC does in our community.
Additionally, the executive director and the operations manager want the Brookings community to appreciate that BAC activities such as this first-ever block party and other arts events and activities are an economic engine and that the arts bring us together.
Noting the economic engine as evident locally, a Brookings Snapshot compiled by Arts South Dakota in partnership with Aberdeen, Brookings, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Yankton showed local tax revenue to be about $154,000 and 133 jobs supported.
The BAC mission statement charges it with: Encouraging community connections through the arts by providing a supportive environment for awareness, appreciation and participation.
The board of directors overseeing the BAC allows for 15 members; 13 slots are presently filled. The hands-on overall operation of the BAC is done by Funk and Binkley. Executive Director Funk, the BACs only full-time employee, is there for the BACs regular gallery hours: Thursday and Friday, 12 noon to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 2 to 5 p.m.
Operations Manager Binkley explained that this is a new position; I just started my second year in May. Before that I was an art teacher in the public schools system.
Contact John Kubal at [email protected].
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