Artsball Raises $425,000 for Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts

This year’s gala, which commemorated the college’s 40th anniversary, had the theme "Starry, Starry Night, Bedazzle in White!" It took place in tents on the college’s spacious front lawn with the trees lit by sparkling white lights. The June 4 event was sold out with 300 revelers bedecked in white, surrounded by a matching décor.

The funds raised at the ball will be used for scholarships at Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts and are part of the UNH Charger Challenge, the university’s first-ever comprehensive campaign, which has the goal of raising $100 million in time for the university’s 100th anniversary in 2020.

"We are pleased with the generous amount raised at this year’s ball," said UNH President Steven Kaplan. "Scholarship funds are critically important, as there are many deserving students who otherwise would not be able to pursue their dreams of earning a college education. Our success is the result of support from generous alumni, friends, area businesses, faculty and staff. Their participation makes a real difference for our students."

The total raised by the ball included $37,000 raised by the silent auction. The auction included plein air paintings done on May 21 in the region, known for its natural beauty and luminous light. The artists participating in the plein air event included many well-known alumni of the college who were given access to 10 iconic outdoor home settings on the water, along fields and marshes, and at the harbor.

"There was a lot of excitement from the artists, who enjoyed participating in the project, and from the audience who bid on their work," said Todd Jokl, campus dean. "The silent auction provided a unique aspect to this event, which is viewed by many as the unofficial opening of summer."

Last year, the ball raised $85,000.

About Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts

Lyme Academy College of Fine Arts is a college of the University of New Haven. Its mission is to educate aspiring artists through a rigorous studio curriculum rooted in figurative and representational art. The College offers a comprehensive liberal arts education essential for advanced critical and creative thought.

For more information, click here.

About the University of New Haven

Founded on the campus of Yale University in 1920, the University of New Haven is a private, co-educational institution which is comprised of five colleges that provide career-focused education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, fine arts, business, engineering, and public safety and service.

The University is a diverse and vibrant community of more than 6,800 students, including 1,800 graduate students and more than 5,000 undergraduates. Information is available at www.newhaven.edu.