On Sunday, March 25, at 11 a.m., City Arts Nashua and the Nashua Arts Commission will host Champagne with the Greek Muses: 5th Annual Meri Goyette Arts Award Luncheon, with live performers and awards recipients, live and silent auctions, games, and more, at the Sky Meadow Country Club, located at 6 Mountain Laurels Drive in Nashua, New Hampshire.
In addition to recognizing the contributions of those who have significantly supported the arts and helped to expand the vibrant arts community, this luncheon serves as the main fundraising event for City Arts Nashua, allowing the organization to pursue its mission to enrich the quality of life in the Nashua, N.H. region by providing leadership to support and strengthen arts and culture.
This year, proceeds from the Fund-A-Need Initiative will benefit the Nashua Performing Arts Center Endowment Fund. City Arts Nashua is the first organization in Nashua to donate such funds. There will also be a matching donation of up to $1,000.00 from Nashua City Alderwoman Mary-Ann Melizzi-Golja and her husband, Bogdan.
“Each year, we choose a special project to be the recipient of our Fund-A-Need initiative at our Luncheon. We are very proud to announce that this year, all of the proceeds from our Fund-A-Need Initiative will support the Nashua Performing Arts Center Endowment Fund,” says City Arts Nashua board president Lisa Bissonnette. “City Arts Nashua has been an enthusiastic supporter of the PAC and is delighted to lead the fundraising effort for the endowment. Alderwoman Mary-Ann Melizzi-Golja and her husband, Bogdan, have also very graciously offered to match a donation of up to $1,000 in support of the PAC. We are grateful for their support.”
Bissonnette added, “We hope other matching donors will also come forward to help spur a grassroots fundraising effort for the PAC.”
The Nashua Board of Aldermen voted 14-1 in mid February to acquire 201 Main St. — the former Alec’s Shoe Store — for $2 million, and voted 14-1 to issue a $15.5 million bond to pay for the acquisition, construction and equipment costs of the 500- to 700-seat theater. Before the bond is issued, a $4 million private endowment fund must be secured, and City Arts Nashua wants to start the ball rolling.
THE LUNCHEON
Each year, City Arts Nashua and the Nashua Arts Commission recognize contributions to the arts made by non-artist individuals, small businesses and large businesses, at the Meri Goyette Arts Awards Luncheon. The event will also feature live entertainment, champagne, a three-course lunch, live and silent auctions, fun games and more. This year’s event takes its inspiration from the Greek Muses, featuring Greek-influenced foods, with a nod to the event’s correspondence with Greek Independence Day. Awards recipients will be named in the next week.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating the 5th Annual Meri Goyette Art Awards and Luncheon on March 25,” says Bissonnette.
“Meri [Goyette] is such an inspiration to all of us in the arts here in Nashua and we are so fortunate that she serves on our Advisory Board and partners with us to support CAN’s mission.
“Particularly this year,” she continues, “with so much happening in the arts in Nashua, such as receiving the Governors Art Award for Creative Communities, and the Performing Arts Center advancing, this is an exciting time to be partnering with the Arts Commission, the City Boards and Administration, and other arts groups to share our vibrant city and its gifts with the wider community.”
LIVE PERFORMANCES DURING LUNCHEON:
Live entertainment during the luncheon will include live painting by artist Kristen Wolfe, of Nashua, N.H.; live illustration by illustrator Don Higgins of Derry, N.H.; dance from Gate City Ballet & Dance Center of Nashua; and Greek-inspired musical performance by Carol Coronis, of Portsmouth, N.H.
LUNCHEON SPONSORS:
R.J. Finlay
Gate City Charter School
Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union
Allstate Crosby Agency
Intellisoft Group
Lake Sunapee Bank
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit cityartsnashua.org.