The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas will host Potpourri: Spirit of the Ages gala from 6-11 p.m. Dec. 7 at The ARTSpace on Main, 623 S. Main St.
Tickets are available now for Potpourri, ASC’s fundraising gala. ASC and The ARTSpace are part of the ARTx3 Campus.
ASC’s longest-running fundraiser helps sustain the museum’s free gallery admission and programming, according to a news release.
The gala will feature dinner by Chef Jamie McAfee, drinks sponsored by MK Distributors, a silent art auction, a silent spirits auction, live music by Groove City and a live auction with Master of Ceremonies Matt Soto.
This year’s event is dedicated to longtime ARTx3 volunteer and Potpourri supporter Becky Loyd Simpson, who died in 2023.
“The spirit auction is a popular tradition at Potpourri and Becky’s leadership cemented it as a favorite among guests,” said Erica Kriner, ARTx3’s development coordinator. “Her contributions to Potpourri and to ARTx3 at large have created a legacy of giving that we hope to inspire in our patrons for years to come.”
“Becky was a big supporter of the Arts and Science Center,” said Laura Beth Shaner, the chair for this year’s Potpourri gala. “She served on the Endowment Board for many years as well. She had been over the spirits silent auction for many years and spent numerous hours getting all of the donations and items together. She did a fabulous job and loved doing this for the art center.”
This is Shaner’s second Potpourri in a row to lead. She has volunteered for the event for more than 10 years, and sits on the Arts & Science Center Board of Trustees. She is the director of Jefferson Regional Foundation, the fundraising arm that supports Jefferson Regional Medical Center and the communities it serves.
“As a life-long resident of Pine Bluff, I’ve supported the Arts & Science Center for many years,” she said. “It offers unique creative opportunities for all ages, and raising funds through Potpourri helps ensure those opportunities will continue.
“The arts are important to every community, but in an economically challenged area like ours, it is an important reminder that creativity and imagination can be a part of our lives, regardless of our situation,” Shaner added. “I think that’s especially true for local children, whose first exposure to the arts often comes at the Arts & Science Center. It is important to have this center in Pine Bluff and helping raise funds to provide this type of facility is very important.”
ARTx3 Interim Director Lindsey Collins explained how crucial the event is to the organization.
“Potpourri is more than just a celebration of the arts — it’s an essential element of ARTx3, providing the critical funding needed to sustain and grow our programs year-round,” Collins said. “Having both attended and volunteered for Potpourri over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how this event brings our community together in support of creativity and culture. The generosity we receive at Potpourri directly supports the workshops, exhibitions and theater productions that make ARTx3 a vibrant, accessible hub of artistic expression for Pine Bluff.
“Since I began my involvement with ARTx3 in 2001, I’ve witnessed its profound impact, offering a safe space for people of all ages to explore their creativity. Potpourri ensures we can continue to reach new audiences, cultivate innovation and remain a cornerstone of cultural enrichment in Pine Bluff,” Collins said.
Besides supporting the organization, Shaner said attendees can look forward to “great food and entertainment, along with fabulous items for the live and silent auctions. The live auction will consist of jewelry, art and fabulous parties.”
The silent art auction will include pieces by artists including Gary Cawood, Tanya Hollifield, Rhaelene Lowther, Mary Pat Tate and featured artist John Kushmaul.
This Potpourri is also part of the on-going celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Arts & Science Center’s building, which opened in 1994. It’s now one of three buildings comprising the ARTx3 Campus. Potpourri 2024 will feature elements meant to honor the history and the legacy of the campus’ presence in downtown Pine Bluff.
“Marking 30 years on the corner of Eighth and Main is a profound milestone for ARTx3,” Collins said. “Our growth over the past three decades reflects our deep-rooted commitment to championing artistic excellence and community engagement. Potpourri stands as both a celebration of that legacy and a launchpad for the future, ensuring that the arts remain a vibrant and vital force in Pine Bluff and Southeast Arkansas.”
The presenting sponsor of this year’s Potpourri is Express Employment Professionals of Pine Bluff and Stuttgart, the staffing agency that Simpson owned for 35 years.
The other sponsors announced so far include, at the Gold ($5,000) level: Jefferson Regional, MK Distributors, Pine Bluff Sand & Gravel Co., Relyance Bank, Simmons Bank, Smart Auto Group, and Strong Manufacturing Inc.; at the Silver ($2,500) level: Sissy’s Log Cabin and Trotter Auto Group; at the Bronze ($1,000) level: Central Moloney Inc., Ramsay, Bridgforth, Robinson and Raley LLP, and Robinson & Fuller Funeral Homes.
Tickets are $200 for members and $250 for nonmembers. They may be purchased at artx3.org/potpourri, by calling (870) 536-3375 or at the Arts & Science Center during visitor hours. Tickets are limited and expected to sell out quickly.
Those who cannot attend are encouraged to donate to the Potpourri campaign. Visit artx3.org/potpourri or call (870) 536-3375. Checks may also be dropped off or mailed to: The Arts & Science Center, ATTN: Potpourri Fund, 701 S. Main St., Pine Bluff, AR 71601.
For more information on Potpourri including sponsorships, contact Erica Kriner at ekriner@artx3.org or (870) 536-3375.