AMA promises to kick off the holiday party season in style

ALBANY — As the age of technology took greater hold of public events, officials with the Albany Museum of Art were faced with a tough decision: Continue with a signature fundraiser that had become ingrained in the community over its 30 years of high-profile existence or take a step back and consider a new reality.

AMA officials chose the latter.

And so, for the first time in three decades, the museum’s signature “Let’s Make a Bid” fundraiser will net be held. Instead, AMA management is creating a new series of events that will appeal to a wider audience and make up for the loss of LMAB.

“First of all, I want to say thank you to all the wonderful merchants and volunteers who sustained Let’s Make a Bid for 30 years,” AMA Executive Director Paula Williams said. “It made a lot of money for the museum and became a part of our community. I guarantee you, there aren’t many nonprofits anywhere who have been able to sustain a single fundraiser for that long a period.

“But the truth is the concept of Let’s Make a Bid had become antiquated. With advancements made in the digital age, it was time to step back and take a look at how we presented it to the public. We decided the time had come to do some different things.”

One of those “different things” is Saturday’s “A Night at the Museum Holiday Party,” which is expected to put a double shot of fun in fundraiser. Alabama’s Norris Dates & Power Surge will provide the music, and up-and-coming caterers 31 North will provide a heavy hors d’oeuvres spread fit for royalty. Throw in an open bar, and the $125 cost for members — $150 for nonmembers — is a bargain for those who would typically host their own holiday party.

“I guarantee you, by the time you write off part of the cost of the tickets and consider that you don’t have to buy the food and drink and prepare it for your own party, the ticket cost is a bargain,” Williams said. “We even went over-budget with the band to make sure this was the best entertainment. I think this is going to be a night for everyone to remember.”

Museum officials note that the Night at the Museum Party is a proper kickoff to the holiday party season and it benefits the only accredited art museum in South Georgia.

“One of the things we’re trying to do with our events now is think outside the typical box, come up with some things that will be more inclusive of the community,” AMA Marketing and Public Relations Manager Amanda Morris said. “The perception many have of an art museum is that it’s for older people who are into art. But we want to do things that appeal to as many people as possible.

“We get people into the museum who might not come otherwise, and from them we get ideas for exhibits that might have a broader appeal. We’re also located next to a college campus, so we have to have unique things that will appeal to the next generation of arts patrons.”

With Dates and Power Surge offering high-energy musical selections ranging from soul to R&B to funk to Motown to rock to country to hip-hop, and 31 North showcasing itself at something of a coming-out event, attendees can expect an evening that’s sure to be one of the area highlights of the holiday season.

“Since we receive no funding from the city or county, we depend on our fundraisers to help us present quality exhibitions and programs to the public,” Williams said. “We’ve got to make up for a half-million-dollar operating budget and that’s pretty significant. But I believe in addition to improving our quality of life, we also serve as an economic driver in the community. I guarantee you amenities like the museum, the symphony orchestra and the theater help recruit individuals and companies to our community.”

Tickets for Saturday’s holiday party are available by calling the museum at (229) 439-8400 or by visiting www.albanymuseum.com online.

The Albany Museum of Art is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is open Tuesdays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free, and information is available at the above phone number or website.