Museum hosts Annual Benefit Dinner and Silent Auction The 19th annual North Dakota Museum of Art Gala Benefit Dinner and Silent Art Auction will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6. The event, which is both a prominent social event and successful fundraiser for the Museum, will be held in the elegant galleries of the North Dakota Museum of Art. Evening includes multi-course meal prepared by Justin Welsh. Dress is black tie optional, and valet service is provided. Reservations are $100 per person. The tables seat eight and arrangements can be made for parties to be seated together. This year’s co-chairs are Al Boucher, Thomasine Heitkamp and John and Dawn Botsford. A dedicated volunteer committee, along with numerous sponsors, make this evening possible. As with each of the previous benefits, a silent art auction will go throughout the evening. Matthew Wallace of the North Dakota Museum of Art curated this year's Silent Art Auction. This year, over 50 pieces from regional, national, and international artists will be auctioned. The Auction includes work by emerging artists, as well as contemporary artisans. The pieces will be circulated throughout the dinner by walking-easels. All works of art will open at $100. This year’s auction includes work by Walter Piehl, Gretchen Bederman, Roddy McGinnes, Keith Johnson, Cyruss Swann, Lori Esposito, Matt Anderson, Ryan Frates, Casey Opstad, Sarah Hultin and more. Several artists have donated all proceeds from the sale of their work to the Museum as they have in the past. The artwork will be on the mezzanine and ready for preview by Monday, Jan. 25, and will be open to viewing until the night of the auction. Vegetarian meals will be provided with prior request. Fine wines chosen by wine connoisseur Michael McCullough accompany the meal. Proceeds from dinner reservations, and art and raffle sales are used for programming and exhibitions at the North Dakota Museum of Art. Exhibitions would not be possible without funds collected at this and other fundraising events, and generous contributions from sponsors, both corporate and individual. For additional information, contact the North Dakota Museum of Art or visit www.ndmoa.com. Museum hours are weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The Museum shop is open during Museum hours and the café is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with lunch served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free, although donations are appreciated. -- Brittney Blake, North Dakota Museum of Art, bblake@ndmoa.com, 777-4195