Celebration of the Arts

ArtsFund’s twenty-seventh annual Celebration of the Arts Luncheon drew nearly 1,000 arts supporters and advocates to the Westin Seattle on May 18.  The event was highlighted by keynote speaker Vijay Gupta‘s discussion of the healing and redemptive powers of music. “Yes, the science is amazing, ” he said.  “The way that music influences and impacts the brain and our body is amazing, but music heals our hearts, as well.” Watch Vijay’s entire talk here.

The event also featured some inspiring words from award winners Tom Skerritt and Ann Ramsay-Jenkins.  Skerritt, who was awarded for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts for his lifetime of work in film and television, recounted his childhood growing up in Detroit and the impact that early encounters with art had on his life. “The risk of possibilities and the audacity of the imagination is what we have to keep in the grade schools…We have to keep these creative enhancement programs in education,” he said.

Lifetime Dedication to the Arts award winner Ann Ramsay-Jenkins spoke about her love for the “magic of entertainment” and thanked the arts community for serving as her “artistic family” during her 28 years as a supporter of the visual and performing arts in Seattle.  “Through your spectacular work, you have taught me the meaning of discipline and power of collaboration — all attributes that work in art and life.”

Thanks to generous support, the luncheon raised over $170,000 for ArtsFund’s 2015 Campaign.  Click here for photos.