With Corinda Grant as MC, attendees will have the chance to bid for an exotic Tanzanian safari valued at $15,000, donated by Wild & Me Safaris, and an Inspiration Art Trip to Tasmania, donated by travel agents MTA and Allison Yeates.
Gala goers will have the opportunity to bid for and purchase valuable, original artwork by some of Melbourne and Echuca-Moama’s finest artists.
Contributors include rising art-world star Ash Keating, who painted the famous ‘Pink House’ on Meninya St, alongside critically acclaimed painter Emma Beer, and a raft of local artists.
Aunty Vicki Walker will welcome all to Country with her insight into traditional and contemporary First Nations culture.
Madi Colville-Walker will sing her beautiful songs of country and life.
Rach Kendrigan from the Borders and Regenerative Communities art and ecology schemes will be a guest speaker along with noted Bendigo artist Troy Firebrace.
Mr Firebrace is also donating original artwork for this year’s auction, along with fellow Yorta Yorta artist Alkina Edwards.
Ms Edwards’ work has been captivating audiences at the Moama Lights, and she recently collaborated with Wittner shoes for her ‘Winyarr’ collection.
The high calibre of diverse artists and speakers is testament to BAP’s bold plans to turn Echuca-Moama into a cultural hotspot.
"The project is a bold vision, a highlight of the planned Meninya St revitalisation and likely to progress in stages as funding becomes available,” BAP chair Chris Bilkey said.
“It will capitalise on our already vibrant tourism market, with the historical port precinct and the Murray River drawcard.”
Jacqui Berthaume, whose father Barry Donchi conceived the project, said the team was creating an opportunity to merge First Nations storytelling with modern contemporary art from emerging and established names in the art world.
“It will offer tourists and locals a multidimensional cultural experience and have significant, ongoing economic benefits to this region,” she said.
The aim of the gala is to raise further funds for the BAP, and to encourage conversations between artists and the community and funding partners.
Last year’s gala dinner raised well over the goal of $15,000, which went directly to furthering the project and a future world-class arts precinct for Echuca-Moama.
Gala co-ordinator Alison O’Brien said that while she was new to the project, she had seen great generosity already.
"Taking a bird’s eye view I can see that a small pool of exceptionally generous local families along with sponsors such as Moama Bowling Club have privately raised a staggering $1 million in land and financial contributions to support Barry Donchi’s visionary idea,” she said.
“It is now up to the rest of the community to pull together on both sides of the river, to see the immense potential of this art project and what it could do for Echuca-Moama for decades to come.”
The steering committee can’t wait to outshine last year's fundraiser, and has been working for more than a decade to be in this position.
“We invite you to join in a fun and relaxed night to show your support of this project,” treasurer Nannette Tehan said.
"Without community support, the project cannot succeed.
“We are delighted with the generous Tanzanian safari for two and Tasmania escape package that have been donated, and look forward to seeing who the lucky winners will be.”
The gala dinner will take place on August 20 at the Moama Bowling Club.
To purchase tickets to the gala, head to: www.123tix.com.au/events/31928/bridge-art-project-gala-dinner or visit the BAP website at www.bridgeartproject.com.au
To place a bid before the night on a valuable artwork or African safari, visit the online bidding page: https://airauctioneer.com/bridge-art-project-gala-fundraiser
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