Arts on Wheels to kick off 7th Annual ‘Sweetheart for the Arts’ fundraiser this weekend

by | Feb 4, 2016 | ART

Ladies get ready to get gussied up in your finest and go out this weekend to the Robinson Theater to support the arts.


Ladies get ready to get gussied up in your finest and go out this weekend to the Robinson Theater to support the arts.

Art on Wheels will hold its 7th annual fundraiser, Sweetheart for the Arts, this Saturday to benefit their programs and this year, the theme is “Fruits of Victory”-taking you back to the WWII era and the women who took over jobs left vacant by men leaving for the war.

The theme will highlights the Victory Gardens and Women’s Land Army according to Kevin Orlosky, Director of Programms for Art on Wheels.

“Its more about what the women were doing during the war,” said Orlosky, Director of Programs for Art on Wheels. “Every year we try to a different theme based off of different art that could be inspiring for the show, this year we sort of based it off of propaganda posters from that era.”

Sweetheart for the Arts will feature a raffle, an auction, games, and burlesque show produced by Deepa de Jour of Richmond Burlesque Revue and hosted by Magnolia Jackson Picket Burnside.

“Each number goes along with the theme,” he said.

They have a few sweet raffle prizes that you can win as well.

“We have tattoos from Salvation, tattoos {from} Absolute Art, some jewelry, family memberships to some of the museums around town,” Orlosky said.

The organizaton’s biggest prize this year will be a one night stay at the Courtyard Marriot hotel along with a $100 gift card to Graffiato.

There will also be a costume contest so be sure to come dressed in your best 1940s getup.

“This year we’ll be giving out awards for the best costume on a dame and a best costume on a GI,” Orlosky said.

The proceeds from the event go back toward the Art on Wheels’ programs including their Aging in the Arts, Healing in the arts and Arts and Disability programs. And this year, they’re hoping to raise money for a new project.

“This year we’re doing a big project called Impressions of Courage, in which we are going to set up the world’s largest colograph print while honoring people who have been affected by cancer,” he said.

Orlosky said in the spring Art on Wheels will start collecting donations of clothing which will be made into plates and all the plates will be featured in a festival in Scott’s Addition in the fall where they’ll line all the plates up and steam roll printed onto one long piece of fabric.

The fundraiser has grown each year and more and more people have come out according to Orlosky.

“Everybody always has a great time it’s a lot of fun,” he said. “Last year we raised $8,000 and this year we’re hoping to get $10,000.”

Regular price for tickets are $35, but for you lucky RVA Mag readers you get $10 off if you use the promo code Victory when you buy your tickets here.

Art on Wheels’ Sweetheart for the Arts fundraiser is this Saturday, Feb. 6, at 8 pm at the Robinson Theater at 2903 Q St. in Church Hill.

Amy David

Amy David

Amy David was the Web Editor for RVAMag.com from May 2015 until September 2018. She covered craft beer, food, music, art and more. She's been a journalist since 2010 and attended Radford University. She enjoys dogs, beer, tacos, and Bob's Burgers references.




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