Nickel Plate Arts held its 11th Anniversary Gala on Sept. 13 with the theme “Art is in Fashion.”
The event was held at and sponsored by Conner Prairie and consisted of art demonstrations and activities, a fashion show celebrating Hamilton County’s fashionable heritage facilitated by the streetwear clothing brand MELI, and the Nickel Plate Arts Awards, which involved dinner, drinks, live music, and a live auction.
“We are so moved by the support we received from the more than 200 people who attended our 11th Anniversary Gala,” Nickel Plate Arts Director Ailithir McGill said. “I personally want to thank everyone who has supported our 11th Anniversary campaign – your support strengthens our community by ensuring that everyone has access to arts and cultural experiences and opportunities.”
This year, the gala brought in more than $65,000 worth of value and support for the mission of Nickel Plate Arts, which was precisely their goal for the event.
Money raised from ticket sales and the silent auction will fund Nickel Plate Arts operations and staff wages. Money raised during the fund-a-need portion of the evening will be used to help develop Arts Crawls in the Noblesville Cultural Arts District in 2024. Nickel Plate Arts will be working with their local partners and the city to develop the Arts Crawl events. More details will be available in early 2024, as construction on the Lacy Arts Building progresses.
This year’s winners
Nickel Plate Arts also gives further congratulations to the winners of the awards ceremony, who were recognized for their inspirational work and advocacy for artists throughout central Indiana.
Artist of the Year: Simona Buna
The Artist of the Year Award recognizes established artists who are known for their professional, high-quality art and who help raise the reputation of art in Indiana.
Art Entrepreneurs of the Year: Sweet Tunes
The Art Entrepreneurs of the Year Award acknowledges artists who–through their hard work, determination, and talent–are proving that art is good business.
Artist-Advocate of the Year: Esperanza Alonzo
The Artist-Advocate of the Year Award highlights people with an artistic, creative spirit who not only are successful in their own right but also build awareness for the arts as a whole, helping other artists to blossom and thrive.
Arts Partners of the Year: The Ignite Studio
The Arts Partners of the Year Award identifies individuals or organizations who work hard to include art and artists in projects and programs and who help communicate the importance of the arts for a healthy society.
Arts Patron of the Year: Douglas Church
The Arts Patron of the Year Award distinguishes people who publicly support and invest in the arts.
About Nickel Plate Arts
Nickel Plate Arts is an umbrella nonprofit organization that creates and coordinates arts and cultural experiences across communities in eastern Hamilton County and the surrounding areas to improve the quality of life for residents, strengthen local economies and enrich experiences for visitors. Nickel Plate Arts is a project of Hamilton County Tourism, Inc. Find out more at NickelPlateArts.org.
Photos provided by Nickel Plate Arts
Nickel Plate Arts’ 11th Anniversary Gala included a fashion show celebrating Hamilton County’s fashionable heritage facilitated by the streetwear clothing brand MELI.