Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) is pleased to announce that it far exceeded its fundraising goal for the Fourth Annual Moonlight and Magnolias Gala.

NASHVILLE, TN, May 04, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ — The event, held April 27 at the Standard’s Smith House in Downtown Nashville and April 29 at the MACC’s Magnolia Cottage in Hendersonville, surpassed its original target of $200,000 with a final total of $311,425 raised. All proceeds from the fundraiser will support the MACC’s arts education, outreach and healing arts programs.

“The phenomenal success of this year’s Moonlight and Magnolias Gala proves once again that there is tremendous support for arts programming in Middle Tennessee,” says Cheryl Strichik, the MACC’s executive director. “We are deeply grateful to all of our donors and partners for helping us make the arts available to everyone.”

The Fourth Annual Moonlight and Magnolias, chaired by Jim and Elizabeth Carmody, was an eventful fundraiser that opened with a pre-gala party on April 27 at The Standard. More than 100 art enthusiasts attended the event, which featured a special performance by popular Nashville vocalist Jonell Mosser. The pre-gala also included the MACC’s first-ever online auction. Visitors to the MACC’s website were able to bid on the works of such renowned artists as Michael Goddard, Romero Britto, Peter Max, and more. The MACC’s long-time partner Park West Gallery, which represents the artists, donated 100 percent the proceeds of the sales from the auction to support Monthaven’s arts programming.

The black-tie gala event on April 29 opened with visitors touring Monthaven Mansion to see the exhibit Shakers, Breakers & Music Makers, featuring the rock star portraits of Russian artist Stas Namin. One of the founders of Russian rock music, Namin was on hand to greet visitors. The evening’s main event took place at Magnolia Cottage, where 240 guests enjoyed an elegant three-course meal from Chef’s Market while listening to a lineup of speakers that included MACC Board Chairman Barry Ellis, Park West Founder and CEO Albert Scaglione and MACC Executive Director Cheryl Strichik. Lois Riggins-Ezzell, director emeritus of the Tennessee State Museum, was the evening’s keynote speaker. VIPs in the audience included Park West Corporate Secretary Mitsie Scaglione, Park West Foundation Executive Director Diane Pandolfi, and New York-based artist agent Gene Luntz.

John Block, executive vice president of Park West and a MACC board member, served as the evening’s compère and also led a live auction. Items in the auction included ocean cruises from Celebrity Cruises along with art from the Park West Gallery. Musical entertainment was provided by country singer-songwriter Wade Hayes and blues singer and instrumentalist Tullie Brae.

Moonlight and Magnolias weekend concluded April 30, with Namin engaging in an entertaining Q&A with Executive Director Strichik and 60 or so members of the audience. Namin remained afterward to sign catalogs and pictures. His exhibit at the MACC runs through June. 11.

Park West Gallery is the world’s largest private art dealer. The Gallery emphasizes its mission to bring art to everyone through its Park West Museum, a free-to-the-public art museum, open seven days a week, in Southfield, Michigan. Visitors can browse Park West’s private collections of original works by artists like Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, Albrecht Dürer, Francisco Goya, Yaacov Agam, Salvador Dalí, Marcel Mouly, Michael Godard, Alexandre Renoir, and more. For more information about Park West Gallery, visit www.parkwestgallery.com.

Monthaven Arts and Cultural Center (MACC) is a jewel-box art museum and education facility housed in one of Tennessee’s most spectacular antebellum mansions. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the MACC has staged exhibitions featuring everything from the ceramic art of Pablo Picasso to the evening gowns of Princess Diana. The artwork of local artists and military veterans are also on frequent display. As an art school, the MACC offers classes to more than 600 children and adults each year. The MACC also provides free arts outreach and healing arts to underserved children, families and military veterans. For more information, visit www.monthavenarts.org or call (615) 822-0789.

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