CHRISTMAS IN THE SKY is the most successful fundraiser in the area, and winner of the SPECIAL EVENTS INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE “BEST GALA IN THE WORLD” award. CHRISTMAS IN THE SKY 12.13.14 WILL ROCK YOUR WORLD! Guests will be awed by fifteen theatrical sections created by the area’s most talented designers and replete with costumed characters, live entertainment, themed bars and buffets! Nine hundred auction items will be auctioned off in Silent and Live Auctions throughout the evening. Five hundred community volunteers work 18 months to produce this spectacular event!
CHRISTMAS IN THE SKY, is produced every other year by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs on the second Saturday in December. The Christmas in the Sky 2014 theme SKY ROCKS brings on the beat, the fashion, the cool factor. Rock on!
VOLUNTEER DRIVEN FUNDRAISER: A team of more than 500 VOLUNTEERS produces CHRISTMAS IN THE SKY during an 18-month production period. The production of CHRISTMAS IN THE SKY requires an organization comprising 25 separate volunteer committees working tirelessly throughout the year to secure auction donations and corporate sponsorships, as well as design and create sets, props, costumes, invitations, food displays, and entertainment venues. This premier event is Chaired by Waynette Ballengee and Donna Poimboeuf, with Heidi Kallenberg as the Co-Chair.
DESIGN: CHRISTMAS IN THE SKY is created by a team of 18 professional designers – artists, interior designers, architects, and display professionals - from all over Shreveport and Bossier who volunteer their time to bring this extraordinary event to life!! Harrah’s Louisiana Downs is transformed to completely convey the theme of the event from the moment a guest pulls into the valet parking, to the lobby, and throughout two floors of the Racetrack. Much of the event is built “on site” because the sets are so large (each piece averages 16’ tall by 8’ wide). Diesel Driving Academy delivers 10 “Big Rigs” filled to the brim with Supplies and Materials!
AUCTION: Christmas in the Sky features a gigantic LIVE and SILENT Auction with almost 1,000 items donated by Businesses and Individuals from Shreveport-Bossier and all over the World! The LIVE Auction features one-of-a-kind experiences such as trips with customized and personal services. There are 15 Silent Auction areas featuring jewelry, accessories, parties, sports memorabilia, wine, and children’s items.
FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT: Costumed characters and Entertainers dazzle guests and encourage high bidding! Ten (10) stages feature live professional entertainment. The gala showcases the Harrah’s Louisiana Downs’ creative culinary team with 12 bars and 11 themed hot and cold buffets. Ice sculptures capture the overall theme of the event and fabulous buffets beckon guests to dine on hot and cold hors d’oeuvres that are designed to mirror the theme of the event!
TICKETS: More than 2,000 guests from across the nation (New York, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Little Rock, St. Louis, and Canada) as well as our friends in the “Ark-La-Tex” region purchase tickets to support the every other year gala, which is sold out within two weeks; tickets are $280 and are available November 1.
SPONSORSHIPS: A corporate community of more than 200 BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS contributes $500,000 to underwrite Christmas in the Sky. Sponsorships range from $1,500 to... the “Sky’s the limit!” For more information, please call 318-673-6500 and ask for Corrie.
ECONOMIC IMPACT: The annual Economic Impact of the Nonprofit Cultural Arts Community in Northwest Louisiana is $90 million dollars, with 2,400 full time job equivalents, $55 million in household income, and returning $13 million in local and state government revenue.
BENEFIT: Christmas in the Sky generates funds to support important community Arts Programs produced by the Shreveport Regional Arts Council for Northwest Louisiana. SRAC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Federal Tax I.D. #: 72 – 0805661.
MISSION: The Shreveport Regional Arts Council (SRAC) mission is to “Imagine That!” by developing, promoting, educating and maximizing access to all of the Arts for people in Northwest Louisiana.
VALUES: Through a planning process with the Community Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, the Artists and Arts Organizations have developed an ARTS Congress outlining Access, Education, Visibility and Equity as Core Arts Values.
PROGRAMS:
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Arts in Education (36 Years) – Curriculum-based visual, music and theatre instruction in all Caddo/Bossier Schools, reaching over 75,000 Students.
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ArtBreak Festival (30 Years) – The annual showcase of the Visual, Literary and Performing Arts programs in Caddo and Bossier Schools; ArtBreak reaches over 50,000 children!
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artspace (12 Years) – Shreveport’s center for the creation and presentation of all Arts featuring thematic mainspace and coolspace exhibits curated by Academy Award-winning director, William Joyce, who is the Artistic Director of artspace.
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Central ARTSTATION Incubator – Emerging Arts Gallery, Black Box Theatre and Flexible Space, and Entrepreneurial Training Program for Artists and Arts Organizations.
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Public Art (15 years) – “It’s everywhere; it’s everywhere!” Murals and sculptures enhance downtown and neighborhoods throughout Shreveport!
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SHREVEPORT COMMON –Shreveport’s newest, oldest “UNcommon” cultural district! SHREVEPORT COMMON is a 9-block downtown Arts neighborhood built on the Authenticity, Community, Creativity and Sustainability of downtown Shreveport! In addition to the Central ARTSTATION, 30 public and private projects have begun or are committed in the 9-block area. SHREVEPORT COMMON will also have a Community Green Space, CADDO COMMON, a CommonLink Transportation hub, preservation and restoration of historic buildings, new opportunities for development and investment, and Public Art and Public Art programming.
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UNSCENE! – The new monthly “arts happening” that sheds light on the “soon to be” UNcommon Cultural Community, SHREVEPORT COMMON. UNSCENE! began in October of 2013 and has over 7,500 attendees on a monthly basis! UNSCENE! features nationally renowned Artists collaborating with Northwest Louisiana Artists to create new works that debut amidst music, food, and a Juried Arts Market!
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Outreach – SRAC works with right area Social Service nonprofits in the SHREVEPORT COMMON community to engage artists for classes, workshops, performances/event tickets, and hands-on programming. Additionally, SRAC provides free interactive tours and programming with hands-on activities for Title 1 Schools and Neighborhood Recreation Centers!
SERVICE: As the official Arts Arm of the City of Shreveport and State of Louisiana, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council is responsible to re-grant public funds to Artists and Arts Organizations in Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana.