DeltaARTS set for ‘No-Go’ Gala this Saturday

34th annual fundraiser honoring Janine Earney has new format this year

By RALPH HARDIN

ralphhardin@gmail.com

It’s almost Carnival time! But, this year, DeltaARTS’ 34-year-old annual fundraising tradition is getting a makeover.

Still in honor of the nonprofit’s late executive director, the event is now called the Janine Earney Carnival No-Go Gala. Instead of focusing three nights on a live auction, the reimagined event will be a one-night virtual lip sync competition streamed online with a silent auction component. Carnival will take place Saturday, Sept. 12, from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

“Despite the challenges that this year brings, the new Carnival format will provide a fun, contemporary way for the community to still come together in memory of our beloved Janine and to raise money for the imaginative arts education programs of DeltaARTS,” says Delta-ARTS Executive Director Alex Waddell Smith. “We are so thankful to be a part of such a creative and supportive community that is sure to embrace the ‘New Carnival.’” “I’m really excited to give Carnival a refresh and tie the event back to our purpose of enriching lives through the arts,” says DeltaARTS board member and daughter of Janine Earney, Meg Earney Webb, who is also chairing the event. “The Janine Earney Carnival No-Go Gala is going to safely bring the community together from the comfort of our homes and support an organization near and dear to my heart, DeltaARTS.”

The contestants, or “talent,” are representatives of Carnival’s major sponsoring organizations and will compete for who can raise the most money for DeltaARTS. Viewers will be able to text donations for DeltaARTS in order to vote for their favorite contestant. Contestants will also be asked to “crowdfund” before the event on Facebook to get a head-start on the competition.

The broadcast will also include special guest performances and appearances by familiar faces in the community, all available to watch online at Carnival’s new event site.

This special Carnival event website will allow the public to purchase tickets, “attend” the gala, watch the competition, bid on auction items, view the live progress of funds raised, and see event-related social media feeds all in one place.

The performances and auction will be available for everyone to view, but those who purchase tickets to the no-go gala will receive a togo dinner prepared fresh by Melissa Williams of Melissa’s Catering and available to pick up from the Delta-ARTS Schoettle Center the day of the event. Ticketholders will also receive a special invitation to access the auction website early.

Meals will include salad, Italian green beans, bread, wine, Neapolitan cake, and choice of entrée – Jumbo- stuffed Shells with meat or marinara sauce or Florentine Chicken Pasta. Entrees and sides will come readyfor- the-oven and with the quantity matching the ticket level purchased. Ticket levels are solo ($50, food and wine for one), trio ($150, food and wine for three), or ensemble ($300, food for six).

Major sponsors for the Janine Earney Carnival No-Go Gala include Fidelity Bank, Premier Bank of Arkansas, and Arkansas Distributing. Gala sponsors for Carnival include WGD Memphis, Ford of West Memphis, and Fenter Physical Therapy. Auction and phone sponsors will be announced in the special Carnival “Evening Times” tab closer to the event.

The Carnival event website, where tickets can be purchased, is https://delta artscarnival.swell.gives. For more information, call (870) 732-6260 or visit the event website.

The DeltaARTS crew was getting their choreography together for the big Carnival 2020 “No-Go Gala” this weekend. The annual fundraiser for the arts has a new format this year.

Photo courtesy of DeltaARTS