Artistic night raises money for Sonoma Valley Museum of Art

On Oct. 9, Sonoma Valley Museum of Art (SVMA) celebrated the OneHeART Gala under the stars at The Donum Estate.

The evening began with drinks and hors d’oeuvres at The Donum Estate, a spectacular winery and open-air gallery of more than 40 large-scale sculptures of major artists such as Ai Weiwei, Keith Haring, Subodh Gupta and Louise Bourgeois. Guests then moved to dinner tables just outside of the Donum Home with a sweeping moonlight view of the surrounding hills and were welcomed by SVMA’s Board President Ken Stokes, followed by Diana Bugg and Elaine Smith, gala co-chairs and museum board members.

SVMA Executive Director Linda Keaton introduced the SVMA Fund-A-Need video, narrated by Peter Coyote, actor, director, screenwriter, as well as former chair of the California Arts Council. The film highlighted the special challenges of the last year and creative ways that SVMA continued to serve the community, schools, and especially young people and their families working and learning from home.

The Fund-A-Need got underway with $25,000 donations from Pamela and John Story, Elaine Smith and Dana and Ken Stokes. The $100 donations were each matched by Kimberly and Simon Blattner and Martha and Steve Rosenblatt. In total, the Fund-a-Need brought in more than $200,000, although the total event revenue, which includes the silent auction and ticket sales, es expected to be much higher.

All proceeds raised from the Fund-A-Need, silent auction and raffle sales help support and expand not only SVMA’s stellar art education and community outreach programs for all ages, but our critically acclaimed exhibitions of modern and contemporary art.

“The museum is grateful for the community support received during the challenges of last year and for the continued support demonstrated at the gala where we far exceeded our fundraising goals,” Smith said. “Funds raised at the gala help ensure a strong, vibrant future for SVMA.”