On Wednesday, Sept. 23, Nickel Plate Arts will hold its eighth anniversary gala with the fifth edition of the Nickel Plate Arts Awards to celebrate the area’s burgeoning arts scene and recognize some of the most valuable artists and arts advocates. The gala will happen at Mustard Seed Gardens in Noblesville (with a virtual option as well) and feature dinner by Jacquie’s Catering, wine from Noble Wine & Spirits, live music, and a live auction during Nickel Plate Arts’ premiere fundraiser of the year.
Nickel Plate Arts Executive Director Aili McGill emphasized the importance of the upcoming anniversary gala to Nickel Plate Arts’ ongoing success.
McGill
“During this time of economic and social uncertainty, our only fundraising event of the year is a vital component to our sustainability, allowing us to continue our programs and services into the new year,” McGill said. “The funds we raise at this event will not only allow us to continue fun projects like Welcome to Fairyville and our First Friday events, it will also allow us to continue providing professional development tools to artists, support to art students and teachers, and strategic planning that will help our entire creative community recover from the current crisis.”
McGill said she is eager to honor each of the nominees.
“This year’s Nickel Plate Arts Award nominees represent the best of our region’s creative economy,” McGill said. “These are people and corporations who have put their faith in the arts as a vehicle for personal and economic growth and who have shown us the power that the arts have to inspire and to motivate.”
Here are the nominees for the 2020 Nickel Plate Arts Awards:
Emerging Artist of the Year
- Skylar P. Letsinger
- Mia Morales
- Melissa Bruhn
- Indy Gorgeous Club
Artist of the Year
- Macey Dickerson
- Heather Garrison
- Korie Pickett
- Sarah E. Morin
- Craig Ogden
- Keegan Loye
Arts Educator of the Year
- Sue Payne, Conner Prairie and Hamilton County Artists’ Association
- Jeanette Pomeroy Parssi, Nickel Plate Arts Classes
- Shelley Feeney, Fall Creek Junior High
- Bethany Robinson, Noblesville High School
- Wendy Meyer, Thorpe Creek Elementary
Emerging Patron of the Year
- Les Reinhardt
- Flexware Innovation
- Dick Gordon
- Hub & Spoke
Patron of the Year
- Jim Longfellow
- Steve Sanner, Jiffy Lube
- Anthony Najem, Meyer Najem Construction
- Four Day Ray Brewing
Robyn and Mark Littler, owners of Noble Coffee & Tea, accept the Public Art Project of the Year award from Executive Director Aili McGill at the 2019 anniversary gala and awards banquet. (Photo provided)
This year’s gala and awards will offer some of the same great experiences from the past few years, as well as some new offerings for 2020.
“There are more ways to get involved in this year’s gala than ever before!” McGill said. “If you are eager to have a fancy night out with your spouse and friends, you can join us in-person for a fabulous meal and entertainment. Or, you can participate via Zoom from the comfort of your own home – we even are offering an upgrade option where you can pick up a to-go meal from our caterer, a bottle of wine, or a do-it-yourself cocktail kit! We’ll be streaming content via Zoom throughout the evening, including demos from artists, music, our awards ceremony and even a very quick workshop with our board president Darren Peterson on how to create our signature cocktail for the evening! Finally, we’ll be sharing the link to our silent auction on our social media channels, so even if you can’t come in person or log into Zoom, you can still help support us. Our network of artists have donated amazing pieces to this year’s auction and you can help us keep the value of their art high by bidding in the auction!”
For ticketing information on Nickel Plate Arts’ 8th Annual Anniversary Gala, visit nickelplatearts.org/gala.