Heather Latter
The “Friends of the Museum” held its fourth-annual wine-and-cheese fundraiser last Thursday evening at the Fort Frances Museum and deemed it the group’s most successful event to date, raising about $3,200.
Called “Cut A Rug,” the event tied into the museum’s current exhibit, “The Artistry of Rug Hooking,” and featured live music, games, and, fine food prepared by chef Marc Nagant and “Friend” Judy Kielczewski.
“This year’s gala was amazing,” enthused “Friends” president Duane Hicks.
“Without a doubt, it was our best one yet,” he remarked.
While attendance was comparable to last year, Hicks said the addition of a live auction helped to raise more money than any other year.
“I have to take my hat off to Telford Advent for doing the live auction,” he noted.
“It really added an extra bit of excitement to the evening.
“Comparing the profits from last year, where we had just a silent auction, we know that the live auction help to raise a bit more money.”
Hicks added the gala just ran really smoothly.
“I think our group of volunteers, the ‘Friends of the Museum,’ are getting better and better at doing this every year,” he reasoned.
“We’re getting more experience and we learn, and it becomes easier to pull off.”
As in past years, the Rainy Lake Community Orchestra added “a touch of class to the event” while the Rainy Lake Highlanders set the mood for the evening—piping in guests as they arrived.
“The orchestra was terrific as always,” Hicks enthused.
“People really enjoyed them and it was nice to have the Rainy Lake Highlanders there again.”
He added people also enjoyed playing the trivia game, as well as the spread of delicious food—and, of course, the wine.
“We could also tell that people were having a good time by the amount of wine they drank,” Hicks chuckled.
“For the first time ever, we had pretty much ran out of wine by the end of the evening.”
Hicks noted in attendance were some familiar faces back from previous years, but also some people who hadn’t been there before, including some younger ones.
“At least one person I spoke to there said it was the first time they had been in the museum,” he indicated.
“While obviously the intent is to raise funds, it’s also to give the museum more exposure.
“I’ve always been of the mindset that if you get someone through the door once, then they are just that much more likely to come through again,” Hicks added, noting people are become more familiar with the local facility.
The gala also offered a good occasion to sell the museum’s merchandise and new 2016 calendars.
“Obviously with any non-profit group, the intent is to raise funds to do projects,” Hicks said.
“But it’s great to spend that money; basically show people where the money is being used,” he remarked.
For instance, funds raised from this year’s event will go towards a series of workshops that will be going on at the museum through the winter.
“Starting this December, the museum is partnering with our ‘Friends’ group to provide arts programming on Saturdays,” said museum curator Sherry George.
She noted several sessions per month will be geared to adults (i.e., ages 12 and up) and will include workshops on soap-making, rug-hooking, china painting, acrylics, etc.
“One Saturday per month, programming will focus on young families,” George added, noting local artist Lindsay Hamilton will be leading open studio classes to encourage creativity and self-expression.
“There will be a planned activity that children can participate in, or they can simply be creative with the materials set out on that day,” George said.
“Arts programming has been missing from our museum experience for some time, so I am very excited to be working with our local artists and our ‘Friends’ group to make this happen,” she enthused.
George added with addition funds gifted to the museum by the late Dino D’Agostini, they also are co-ordinating the purchase of two moveable storage units that will help maximize the storage space available to them.
As well, they are looking at new ways to engage young people by adding interactive content to the exhibits.
“The plan is to buy smart devices, like iPads, that can be used by visitors as they tour the museum,” George told those on hand for Thursday’s gala.
“Depending on a visitor’s level of interest, they could simply enjoy the exhibits as they are, or they can access content on the devices that could include an elder’s memories, a war story, or a video clip of an important event,” she explained.
iPads used at the Lake of the Woods Museum have been well-received, she noted.
George also stressed these are exciting times for our community, and she believes the museum has an important part to play in the future that is unfolding.
“A big thank you to our ‘Friends of the Museum’ group for all the hard work they do,” she lauded.
Meanwhile, Hicks indicated it’s likely there will be a fifth-annual gala next year and added the group even might look at some other fundraising event.
“And people are reminded that they can continue to support the museum by buying merchandise and calenders,” he urged.
T-shirts, barbecue aprons, beer glasses, and reusable shopping bags, as well as the new 2016 calendar, are available at the museum.
