Palette to Palate returned to Wayne County’s Kuhlman Center this year to sell out tickets early, and paired with a successful auction and generous sponsors, raised over $70,000 for the arts.

This year’s Palette to Palate event sold out with over 300 seats sold, raising $70,000 for arts programs in Wayne County. IU East and the Richmond Art Museum created the event, held in collaboration with Ginger Gray Productions at the Kuhlman Center. The event is presented by 3 Rivers Federal Credit Union.

After two years of waiting for the collaborative event to return following the COVID-19 pandemic, tickets quickly sold out with over 300 guests in attendance for this year’s event, “Under the Boardwalk and Down by the Sea,” which was held on March 26.

Indiana University East and Richmond Art Museum (RAM) created the event in collaboration with Ginger Gray Productions. The event was presented by 3 Rivers Federal Credit Union.

First created in 2018, Palette to Palate has sold out every year held, raising funds and support for the arts in Wayne County. Proceeds from sponsorships, ticket sales, and the auction held during the event will be split evenly between the IU East Department of Fine and Performing Arts and Richmond Art Museum programming.

Proceeds from the ticket sales and the auction held during the event will be split evenly between the IU East Department of Fine and Performing Arts and Richmond Art Museum programming.

IU East Chancellor Kathy Girten said she was excited to welcome back the event. Girten recently announced she is retiring at the end of the academic year. For the first time at a community event, she shared her upcoming retirement while focusing on the task at hand, to raise funds for the arts for all residents of the county.

3 Rivers is the presenting sponsor for Palette to Palate. Representing the company at the event from left to right is Kim Crager, Katie Alyea, Mary Moore, Casey Mitchell, Robin Henry, Heather Closson and Susan Cappa.

Girten, herself an artist, looks forward to continue championing the arts as a resident of Wayne County.

“It was wonderful to be back in person and see such a strong support for the arts for both of these great organizations,” Girten said.

Shaun Dingwerth, executive director for the Richmond Art Museum, said Palette to Palate enables the museum to provide high-quality programs that benefit youth and residents of all ages.

“The Palette to Palate event is vital for RAM to be able to provide free admission to the museum, making it the only art museum in Indiana free of charge. Proceeds also benefit our educational programs which serve nearly 4,000 children in the region,” Dingwerth said. “RAM is often the only art museum children in our region will ever have the opportunity to visit. Thanks to this important fundraiser, we are reaching more children every year.”

Ann Kim is the chair of the Fine and Performing Arts program for the IU East School of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Dr. Joseph Clemente and Jules Clemente check out the display by featured artist Ali Carter-Rivera.

“These funds are used to strengthen and promote new courses and faculty hire for the growing graphic design program to help us be more relevant in the 21st century while preparing our students build more marketable skill sets for post-graduation careers,” Kim said. “Going forward, we plan on using the funds to provide more high-impact professional learning opportunities, update and acquire equipment to better serve students, and invite more visiting artists from broad specialty areas.”

Palette to Palate featured the work of artists Ali Carter-Rivera, Luke Crawley, Stephanie Galli and Quincy Owens. The Sean Lamb Janet Miller Band provided this year’s music. The boardwalk inspired cuisine was catered by local favorites Radford’s Meat Market & Deli and The Cater Box Food Service, with beverages by mixologists Jason Foust, Kendall Lockwood, Michael Gray and Francisco Mora.

IU East and RAM would also like to thank the members of the committee for their work on the event including Nina Boston, Lance Crow, Liz De Villiers, Shaun Dingwerth, Todd Duke, Marcia Foster, Anna Golden, Vicki Grafflin, Ginger Gray, Carla Griffin, Kevin Hayden, Robin Henry, Kaly Irvine, Paula Kay King, Nate Kuznia, Carrie Longley, Nicole Stults and Jason Troutwine, as well as a special thank you to the IU East students and staff who worked this year’s event.

Marty Van Der Burgt bids during the auction at Palette to Palate. Proceeds from the auction benefit fine and performing arts programs at IU East and Richmond Art Museum.

Thank you to this year’s sponsors all who help to make this unique event possible: 3Rivers Federal Credit Union, G101.3, Golden Engineering, Merchants Bank, Reid Health, First Bank Richmond, Robin Henry, Hoppe Jewelers, Whitewater Eye Centers, Bader Services, Angela Burke, D.D.S., Dr. David and Cheri Jetmore, Markey’s, Natco Credit Union, Stults Family Dentistry, US Bank and Wayne Bank.

IU East and RAM have a photo album available from “Under the Boardwalk and Down by the Sea” available at IU East Facebook.

Palette to Palate 2023 is scheduled for Saturday, February 18, 2023. For more information, visit tastemeetstalent.com/.