It’s all about having a great time with good food, cheerful drinks, super entertainment and the most amazing art sale of the year. And, it’s all about benefitting Pend Oreille Arts Council’s education programs. We will all have some fun and raise some funds. Won’t you join us?

Saturday, June 9 at 5 p.m. the doors to Columbia Bank’s Atrium will open to an event that will be the talk of the town on Sunday, so you’ll really want to be there. The event will showcase POAC’s Ovations program that exposes our local students to world-class performing arts and Kaleidoscope which, in partnership with Community Assistance League, brings hands-on art education into our elementary schools.

Kaleidoscope and Ovations programs are dependent on local funding. Grants cover less than half of POAC’s annual budget. POAC wouldn’t be able to bring you these programs or ArtWalk and Arts & Crafts Fair in the summer or Nutcracker in the winter or all the events in between without the generosity of our community and the dedicated help of volunteers.

To thank a handful of these volunteer POAC will honor six recipients of appreciation awards at the Art Party including one for art teacher of the year, patron of the year, business of the year, performer of the year, volunteer of the year and artist of the year. A delightful original art piece by this year’s recipient will be auctioned to the highest bidder. And, the performer of the year will be part of the entertainment. You have to come.

Plus, the POAC team will be revealing the 2018-19 Performing Arts Season for the first time. All this and a gourmet dinner catered by Tango Cafe, adult drinks provided by Trinity at City Beach and 219 Lounge, silent art auction and mystery original art grab bag. You can’t say no.

Reservations are required and can be made at artinsandpoint.org, by calling the POAC office at 263-6139, stopping in at 302 N. First Avenue or mailing a check to POAC, P.O. Box 1694, Sandpoint, ID 83864. The cost is $85 per person.