Featured image: BAAC staff & board members, pictured from left to right, at the June 8 Summer Celebration: Aaron Herndon, Victoria Hutcheson, Carly Dahl, Juli Howard, Sarah Harmon, Holly Smith, Kori Foster, Abby Perrine, Megan Renihan, Jessica Harber, Kristi Clark, and Maggie Campbell.
More than $10,000 was raised for the non-profit Batesville Area Arts Council (BAAC) during its annual Summer Celebration.
“It’s Poppin’,” presented by First Community Bank, was held June 8 at the Loft on Main Street and was described in a media release by BAAC Executive Director Carly Dahl as a Pop Art-themed event that was a “fun celebration.”
Dahl said the organization was “extremely grateful for the generosity of this community.”
Attendees enjoyed a dinner catered by Lyon College Dining Services, live music from Luke Middleton and Trevor Graddy, a silent auction featuring items donated by local artists and makers, and a pop music dance party with DJ Colyn Bowman.
BAAC’s Executive Director Carly Dahl and Board President Abby Perrine presented the 2024 BAAC Board Member of the Year award to Megan Renihan.
Renihan will serve as the board’s new vice president and will be an integral part of the Summer Celebration planning committee.
“Megan goes above and beyond board member expectations, creating videos for social media, assisting with radio interviews, and is always great at problem-solving,” says Dahl. “We appreciate her hard work and dedication to our organization.”
The proceeds from the 2024 Summer Celebration will support the BAAC mission of providing educational programs, art exhibitions, workshops, and community art projects in Batesville and the surrounding areas.
This funding will also support the expansion of BAAC’s workshop space, allowing them to serve over 40 individuals at a time, compared to the current capacity of 15.
The expansion will allow more children to attend art camp, broaden access to adult arts programs, and introduce new arts education opportunities to our community, BAAC said in the release.
In the BAAC release, the organization expressed thanks to the Summer Celebration sponsors: First Community Bank, Citizens Bank, FutureFuel Chemical Co., Intimidator Group, Lyon College, University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville, Merchants & Planters Bank, and Batesville Printing for their support.
Special thanks were also given to Luke Middleton, Trevor Graddy, Colyn Bowman, Kali Combs Photography, Lyon College Dining Services, Lost Forty Brewing, O’Connor Distributing, Sharp Co. Bootlegger, and volunteers and auction donors.
To learn more about BAAC’s workshop expansion, visit batesvilleareaartscouncil.org/help-the-arts-grow.
From left to right: Abby Perrine, Carly Dahl, and Megan Renihan, the 2024 BAAC Board Member of the Year. Images provided by BAAC
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