OF NORTH VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL

(Anthem, AZ) – Tickets are on sale now for the 4th Annual Picnic Under The Stars fundraising bash to support the Educational Outreach programs of the Arts Council of the North Valley (ACNV). Join your friends on April 28th at 6:00 pm in the Anthem Community Park for a let-your-hair-down night of live music, auctions, dancing, prizes, raffles and fun! With something for everyone – and each table designed by the people seated at it – the night will be aglow with stars above and effervescent personalities below.

“Picnic Under The Stars is a night to celebrate the arts, and especially arts education in North Valley schools,” states Becky MacMillan, president of ACNV’s board of directors. “Students are the artists and audiences of tomorrow. Our foremost commitment is to supporting high quality arts education that keeps the arts alive and vibrant for many years to come.”

The fun of Picnic Under The Stars starts well before the event itself. Each table picks a theme to express their inner selves...whether it be Gilligan's Island or Gone With The Wind – or anything in between (or beyond)! Guests dress in costumes representing their table theme and prepare their own “picnic dinner”. Attendees vote on the most creative tables and costumes, while silent and live auctions help raise funds. Entertainment is provided by popular local band The Spin.

Proceeds from Picnic Under The Stars underwrite ACNV’s Arts in the Schools, Regional Teen Arts Competition (RTAC) and ACNV Scholarships programs. These programs bring professional artists to local high schools for performances and master classes and provide funding to students pursuing arts education at the college, university, or conservatory level. In its first three years, Picnic Under The Stars has raised more than $75,000 for these efforts.

Tickets for the 2012 Picnic Under The Stars are $35 apiece or $350 for a table of 10. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, contact Jon Meyers at (623) 205-5608 or visit www.acnv.org

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The Arts Council of the North Valley is a donation-funded, volunteer-based, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. ACNV’s mission is to provide leadership in support of artistic excellence, to promote understanding and education of the arts, and to nurture the cultural life and vitality of our communities.