Arts Council Selling Tickets at Face Value; Money Goes to Arts

Every year, people hear stories of unique items being donated in the Salvation Army kettles each year, from rare coins to jewelry. This holiday season, the Yoknapatawpha Arts Council is the recipient of a special holiday donation: six tickets to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
A donor gifted the tickets to YAC, which serves Oxford, home of the University of Mississippi Rebels, who are playing TCU in the bowl game on Dec. 31 in Atlanta. The donor hopes the gift will inspire and encourage year-end donations to YAC.
“We serve a unique community, as we provide programs that reach students and faculty at the university, residents in the city of Oxford, and the entire Lafayette County community,” says YAC Director Wayne Andrews. “This gift will help us reach both our year-end fundraising goals and draw new supporters to the arts council. I hope that many of the football fans who come to Oxford from out of town and spend the weekend will discover that Oxford has a talented art community, plus wonderful shops and restaurants. They might choose to come a day early to attend a concert, tour an art exhibit, or discover one of our historic buildings.”
YAC is selling the tickets at face value, with the proceeds being directed to support programs in the upcoming year. “We sold one pair within an hour of receiving the tickets,” Andrews says. “The $300 we received can provide a free art class to 20 children.”
The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council provides more than 320 days of arts programming each year. The non-profit organization manages several major events each year including the Art-er Limits Fringe Festival, the art vendors exhibiting at the Double Decker Festival, the Fiber Arts Festival, Miss-i-sippin’, and 3 Blind Wines, along with the Powerhouse Community Arts Center which hosts art exhibits, live theatre, a modern dance company, and educational programs. “We are supported through donations, memberships, local businesses who sponsor events, and fundraisers,” says Andrews. “This unexpected holiday gift will help us ensure that 2015 has more art and cultural opportunities available to the community.”
To make a donation in exchange for tickets to the Peach Bowl, contact Wayne Andrews at (901) 237-9091 or by email to yacdirector@gmail.com. Learn more about arts and cultural events in Oxford by following YAC at oxfordarts.com.
— Tad Wilkes, tad.wilkes@hottytoddy.com