The MAC’s fourth annual fundraiser brings 1960s flair to Morgantown while raising vital support for affordable arts programming.
The Monongalia Arts Center is turning back the clock this August and inviting the community to trade modern-day stress for peace, love, and lots of local art during its biggest fundraiser of the year: the MAC a-Go-Go ’60s Soiree.
The arts center will host its fourth annual fundraiser on Saturday, August 29. While the fundraiser itself is becoming a tradition, the theme is always different. This year’s 1960s-inspired theme is a first.
“We have a planning committee that puts together this fundraiser every year, and we were thinking about ways to tie in different periods of art,” says Aldona Bird, director of the Monongalia Arts Center. “The idea of pop art and the ’60s came up, and it seemed like something we could do a lot of different things with. It’s a versatile theme that lets us have fun while keeping an art twist.”
Guests are encouraged to dress in their best retro attire for an evening featuring live music from Back in the Day Band, a live silk-screen printing demonstration, light bites from Mama K’s, beer and wine, 1960s-inspired cocktails, raffle prizes, and selfie stations. Weather permitting, the celebration will also spill out into the center’s outdoor garden.
While the evening promises plenty of entertainment, its impact extends far beyond one night. The fundraiser provides a significant portion of the organization’s annual operating budget, helping the Monongalia Arts Center continue its mission of providing art workshops, materials, and experiences.
“Our whole mission is to provide affordable access to the arts,” Bird says. “Having operating money that doesn’t come from ticket sales directly impacts our ability to do that.”
MAC a-Go-Go begins at 7 p.m. on August 29 at the Monongalia Arts Center. General admission is $70, while VIP tickets are $100 and include a beer or wine drink ticket, your name on the program, and an inclusion in the social media “thank-you” post. All proceeds support the MAC’s ongoing arts programs and community outreach.
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