Art Ball, the Albany Museum of Art’s annual celebration and fundraiser, will take place on a special date this year. Art Ball 2024: A Gala Sixty Years in the Making will be held on Saturday, March 23—the date on which the AMA was officially formed in 1964.

“This year especially, Art Ball shall encompass both the rich history of the Albany Museum of Art and its unlimited potential for growth in the future,” AMA Executive Director Andrew J. Wulf, Ph.D., said. “We will reflect, celebrate, and anticipate at our future home in the heart of downtown Albany on the 60^th anniversary of the date on which our charter was filed.”

The black-tie-optional event at the former Belk Building at 140 W. Broad Ave. will start at 6:30 pm with cocktails, followed by a gourmet dinner. There will be both silent and live auctions, followed by Drinks & Dancing. For those who prefer a late start, tickets for only the Drinks & Dancing portion of the evening are also available.

The chairs for this year’s Art Ball are Victor and Katie Sullivan. “Katie and I are excited to host this milestone event in the long, successful history of the Albany Museum of Art,” Victor Sullivan said. “This is an institution that has made a significant contribution to the quality of life in Albany and Southwest Georgia for six decades. We are dedicated supporters of the arts and what they do for our community, and we hope another successful Art Ball will help ensure that the arts continue moving forward and serving our city and region for decades to come.”

While Art Ball is the most anticipated social event of the season, it is more than a celebration of the arts and the community. Funds raised through ticket sales, auction purchases, and the Libby Womack Paddle Raise donations are instrumental in funding the operations and programs of the museum, which offers free admission to visitors and free field trips to schools all year long.

The AMA is embarking on the ambitious goal of raising $60,000 in honor of the Museum’s 60th anniversary through the Libby Womack Paddle Raise, which raises donations specifically for educational programs and scholarships for kids to attend the art camps conducted throughout the year. The paddle raise is named in memory of Libby Womack, a beloved educator and AMA Board of Trustees member who believed strongly in the role that art plays in education.

“Jim Womack has already gifted $5,000 in honor of his late wife,” AMA Director of Development Chloe Hinton said. “Funds committed to this endeavor support free field trips, free admission, and scholarships, and are 100% tax deductible. We’re asking donors to consider pledging to the Libby Womack Paddle Raise in advance. We will use these funds to encourage the attendees to match them at Art Ball on the 23rd.

“Our sponsors for Art Ball and those who attend and bid on items and experiences at the auctions are making a difference in the lives of many children, students, and families in the Albany community who would not have the chance to see world-class art or to participate in art-inspired programs and camps without the support that we get from this event, our biggest annual fundraiser. You not only will have a great evening, but you will have the good feeling of knowing that your participation benefits the arts and the community.”

Sponsorships for the event are available. For information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Hinton at [email protected].

The band and other details about Art Ball 2024 will be announced soon.

Tickets for the full Art Ball experience are $250, or $200 for Reciprocal Level or higher AMA donors. Tickets for only the Drinks & Dancing portion of the evening are $75, or $50 for Reciprocal Level or higher AMA donors. A secure link for ticket purchases may be found at www.albanymuseum.com/event/art-ball.