The 87th Beaux Arts Ball themed Celebration des Arts Ball, will be held on Saturday, November 24, 2018, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield, Illinois. The Beaux Arts Ball is a unique, family-oriented fundraiser that honors the families who so graciously support the SAA with their time, talent and resources. King Benjamin Robert Trask and Queen Samantha Robert Long and the Royal Court will preside over this year’s Ball. The premiere sponsor of this elegant evening is The Lowery-Muller Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC, and will feature the introduction of the Celebration des Arts Ball Court, dinner, a silent auction featuring a variety of unique packages, live music from Kapital Sound and dancing.
Samantha Robert Long is the daughter of Scott and Rae Long. Sami is a senior at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. Samantha is studying math and education with plans to be a high school math teacher after completing her two degrees. Samantha is a member of the Kappa Delta Pi Education Society, the Tennessee Education Association, the Mathematical Association of America and Association of Computing Machinery. Samantha recently completed a study abroad program in Australia. Samantha is a member of the softball team at Belmont University. Samantha volunteers in Nashville at the Easley Community Center with students at the after school program, the Nashville Food Project garden and at the Nashville Rescue Mission. This year Samantha has volunteered in Nashville at the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, the Walk of Love event and the Play 4 Tay Tournament. Samantha’s fondest memories from growing up with the Springfield Art Association are collecting books for the book sale at the Fine Art Fair and participating in the Beaux Arts Ball with her sisters Allison and Josie. Samantha is honored to represent the organization and her family as Queen of the 87th Annual Beaux Arts Ball. Samantha was a three sport athlete at Glenwood High School. Sami played volleyball, basketball, and softball. She graduated in 2015 with plans to graduate from Belmont in 2019.
Benjamin Robert Trask is the son of Dr. Bob and Mrs. Mary Trask, and the younger brother of Katie and Jane Trask. Ben is a junior at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where he is majoring in Economics and was recently awarded University Honors for distinguished academic performance. On campus, Ben is a member and current President of the Gamma Deuteron Charge of Theta Delta Chi fraternity. Ben has a special interest in working with individuals with special needs. He volunteers as a mentor with Bros UniteD and Autism Speaks in the Ann Arbor community. He spent last summer working as a camp counselor with IKUS Life Enrichment Services in Grand Rapids, MI and he volunteered with Chatham Special Olympics throughout middle and high school. Ben graduated from Glenwood High School in 2016, where he was an Illinois State Scholar, an AP Scholar with Distinction and played varsity golf and baseball. Ben and his family have enjoyed their involvement with the Springfield Art Association for many years. His mother, Mary, served on the Board and various committees of the SAA and has chaired several events, and Ben’s sister Jane spent the summer of 2013 as an Intern at Edwards Place. Ben and his sisters have volunteered at numerous events and workdays, but Ben’s favorite experience was hawking raffle tickets at Roasted: Hot Pots and Pork in 2017. It turns out that he is quite a salesman! Ben is honored to support the SAA and represent his family as this year’s King.
The Golden Palette Awards, established in 2016, to acknowledge exceptional volunteer service to the arts and the SAA, will be presented as part of the evening’s festivities. This year the awards will be presented to Don & Carole Walton, Outstanding Community Arts Advocates; Rich Owens, Outstanding Edwards Place Volunteer; Sheri Ramsey, Outstanding SAA Art Educator; Clay Crocker, Outstanding Service to the SAA; and Sophia Kessler, Outstanding Student Volunteer.
The Beaux Arts Ball provides an exciting venue to honor the families and volunteers who generously support the SAA with their time and talents while raising crucial operating funds for the Art Association. Proceeds from the Ball help serve more than 100,000 people in Sangamon County and surrounding communities with high quality art exhibitions, educational outreach programs, classes, special events, lectures and camps. The SAA operates the SAA Collective Gallery at the Hoogland Center for the arts, the Michael Victor II Art Library on the main campus and preserves historic Edwards Place, the oldest home in Springfield. For more information, visit the Springfield Art Association website at www.springfieldart.org.
Tickets for Celebration des Arts Ball are $125 for adults and $50-$75 for children. They must be purchased in advance by calling 217-523-2631. The deadline for dinner tickets is November 14, 2018. Tickets for the dancing portion, with, may be purchased at the door for $5 beginning at 9 p.m. Plan now to invite your family, friends and neighbors to be a part of this exciting traditional gala!
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Mission Statement: The Springfield Art Association (SAA), a community based, non-profit organization*, promotes and supports the visual arts, provides art education opportunities for the greater Springfield area and preserves and interprets historic Edwards Place and the collections of the SAA. *SAA is a non-profit tax exempt organization organized pursuant to IRS code 501(C)(3).
