Art Bash 2026: Tomorrow, Imagined
40th Anniversary Edition
Join us Saturday, November 14, 2026 at 6pm for a spectacular night out on the town commemorating four decades of artistic risk-taking, community building, and cultural impact at Artspace. Art Bash 2026 includes gallery exhibitions, private and live collecting opportunities, art experiences, and gourmet bites, and a curated live art bid.
We are thrilled to announce a host committee honoring the legacy of our organization: Carly Jones, Eric McRay, Andrea Nixon, Thomas Sayre, and Robert Zaytoun will combine their expertise and passion for North Carolina artists to shape a bold and unforgettable live bid and event.
Tickets
- Tickets cost $175 and include all beverages, culinary delights, art activations throughout the building, and access to the thrilling Live Art Bid. Plus, proceeds support Artspace’s programming and artists!
- Dress code is creative cocktail — for added flair, we recommend adding an element from your past or your imagined future.
General ticket sales will open September 14.
Artspace Members, get your discounted tickets today!
The Evening
5–6pm: Friends & Sponsors VIP Private Collecting Hour
6pm: Doors Open
- Culinary delights and drinks by HL Catering
- Private collecting with studio artists
- FRESH, a biennial exhibition of NC artists, juried by Lia Newman, former Artspace Director of Programs and Exhibitions
- 12×12 Artspace Member Showcase
- Artspace Archives Exhibition
- Ruby Anniversary Raffle by Diamonds Direct
- WALTER Magazine’s Artists of Artspace
- … and more!
7:30pm: Live Art Bid curated by the Art Bash Host Committee: Thomas Sayre, Eric McRay, Andrea Nixon, Robert Zaytoun, and Carly Jones
9–11pm: Tomorrow, Imagined After Party, with DJ spinning from 80s to today
Art Bash Host Committee
Eric McRay – Former Studio Artist
Eric McRay is a celebrated visual artist known for his bold, expressive style. A Washington, D.C. native, he earned a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and has been a vital force in North Carolina’s art scene since 1987, joining Raleigh’s Artspace in 1998 and later in 2020, resident member of CMAC: City Market Artist Collective.
His work has been featured in Raleigh Magazine, Fortune Small Business, Southern Living, Art Business News, Walter Magazine, and Our State Magazine, as well as on television and radio, earning recognition as one of The News & Observer’s “Artists to Watch.” McRay’s paintings are housed in collections at SAS, Duke University Medical Center, NC State, NCCU Art Museum, UNC–Chapel Hill, American Tobacco Campus, and exhibited internationally through the U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies Program.
Andrea Nixon – Former Board Chair
Andrea Nixon has been part of the Artspace community for nearly 20 years and served on its Board of Directors for eight years, including as Board Chair. While she has discovered that creating art is much harder than it looks, that experience has only deepened her admiration for artists and the vital role they play in our communities.
Coming from an entrepreneurial family and surrounded by both performing and visual artists, Andrea has long believed in the importance of supporting creativity. She is proud to celebrate Artspace’s 40th anniversary and its ongoing commitment to helping artists grow their careers, expanding access to arts education, and making the arts available to everyone.
Thomas Sayre – Former Exhibiting Artist
Thomas Sayre attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a Morehead Scholarship and majored in English and Studio Art and graduated summa cum laude.
In 1981, together with architect, Steven D. Schuster, Sayre formed Clearscapes, a multi-disciplinary design firm in Raleigh, North Carolina. Sayre was a member of the design team which created the design for the Artspace building. Known for his large, landscape-scale public sculptures, Sayre has completed commissioned public projects across the U.S. with recent projects in Baltimore, Portland, Ft. Lauderdale, Phoenix, and Denver. Internationally, the sites have included Istanbul, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Calgary, Ontario. Currently, Sayre is working on commissions in Italy, Pennsylvania, and Wilmington NC and a large solo exhibition at the Gregg Museum at NC State University.
Robert Zaytoun – Former Board Chair
Robert Zaytoun, Senior Partner in The Zaytoun Law Firm, Wilmington, North Carolina, feels strongly that serving his community is part of the calling of a lawyer. He served as the original Chairman of the Board of Directors of Artspace and guided its earliest days through renovation of the former Sander’s Ford Building, still the current home of Artspace.
He has also served on the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission, the Board of Trustees of the North Carolina Symphony, the initial Judicial Nominating Commission, the North Carolina Film Council, Member of UNC Council Of Friends, and, most recently, served on the Board of Directors of WSPCA of the Carolinas. He currently is a member of the acquisitions committee of the Cameron Art Museum
In Wilmington.
Artspace's Mission
Artspace enriches North Carolina’s culture by connecting artists and the community through the visual arts.
Fundraising the Future
With a goal to raise $200,000, proceeds will help ensure people of all ages, cultures, and abilities have the opportunity to create, learn, and explore meaningful art experiences. From summer art program scholarships, one-of-a-kind youth and adult classes, and Artspace on the Go mobile workshops, to our visual artist residencies, exhibitions of nationally-renowned artists and more, your support makes possible the joy, creativity, and connection the arts offer across the communities in our area.
Featured Exhibition: FRESH
FRESH is Artspace’s biennial fundraising exhibition that celebrates the incredible creative output across North Carolina, while demystifying the typical art jurying process.
From September to mid-October, all artwork submissions will be displayed, where they will be juried. Starting on October 29, the final juried exhibition will open, showing a diverse cross-section of the art of our state.
Leadership Circle
Andrea Nixon + Brent Friedenberg
Chuck + Larisa Lotz and Family
Pam Blondin
Robert Zaytoun
Steven Martin
SPONSORS
VISIONARY
Debbie + Larry Robbins
LEGACY
Robert Zaytoun
FOUNDERS
INNOVATORS
Andrea Nixon + Brent Friedenberg
Chuck + Larisa Lotz and Family
Johnny + Tammy Chapman
TRAILBLAZERS
Andrew Blackburn + Hattie Gawande
Jenny Bo + Chris Saunders
MEDIA + PRINT
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
FRIENDS
Alka + Derek Schroder
Anna E. Worley
Catalyst Design
Dianna Wynn + Brian Holland
Gregory + Heather Ng
Jim + Jeanne Tedrow
Mary Poole + Greg Norton
Rob Maddrey + Mark Tulbert
Ruth Calabro
Shaleiah Fox
Become a Sponsor
We are currently accepting sponsorships for Art Bash 2026! Secure your sponsorship by August 14 to be included on the printed and mailed invitations.
Overall Sponsor Benefits
All sponsors will receive logo recognition on:
- Printed and mailed invitations (1,000+ households)
- Event signage and printed program (400 attendees)
- Instagram, Facebook, and e-Newsletter social channels (33,000+ followers)
- Art Bash webpage (65,000+ unique website visitors annually)
Sponsors receive complimentary tickets to the event according to their level, a valuable opportunity to engage with our audience, entertain clients, and/or have a staff outing. Additional tickets purchased will be upgraded to VIP.
+ Sponsor recognition during the 2027 Calendar Year
- Lobby slideshow logo recognition
- Hyperlinked recognition on Support webpage
- All sponsors are encouraged to attend the Art Bash VIP Hour from 5-6pm with a welcome drink, valet parking, and first chance to peruse the bid items.
Questions? Contact Nathalie Tondeur at ntondeur@artspacenc.org or (919) 821-2787.
Sponsorship Levels
Presenting Sponsor: $15,040
Only 1 Presenting Sponsorship available
- Includes recognition as the sponsor of two Artspace signature events: Art Bash, and the 2026 FRESH exhibition!
- Logo recognition with exclusive placement on dedicated signage, all printed materials and e-newsletters, advertising around Downtown Raleigh, and the webpage for both Art Bash and FRESH.
- Presenter of Art Bash benefits include:
- speak in the Live Art Bid Presentation,
- Ticket privileges for 15 guests: valet parking and skip the line!
- VIP check-in with welcome drink to kick off the evening
- Sponsor of FRESH exhibition (September – November 2026) benefits include:
- your organization’s name on the gallery wall vinyl
- VIP at the opening reception for Artspace’s largest exhibition of the year
- logo in all digital and print promotions
- and overall sponsor benefits
Visionary Level: $10,040 (all spots filled)
- Dedicated signage at Art Bash Live Bid
- Acknowledgement in the Live Bid Presentation
- Sponsor of a First Friday in 2027 (with a private sponsor reception for your guests)
- Ticket privileges for 10 guests with valet parking
- VIP check-in with welcome toast to kick off the evening
- and overall sponsor benefits
Legacy Level: $7,540
- Exclusive logo recognition at a bar station
- Ticket privileges for 8 guests with valet parking
- VIP check-in with welcome toast to kick off the evening
- Sponsor of Summer Celebration in 2027 (a family-friendly event with a student art showcase)
- and overall sponsor benefits
Founders Level: $5,040
- Recognition on valet parking signage
- Ticket privileges for 6 guests with valet parking
- VIP check-in with welcome toast to kick off the evening
- Sponsor of an Artist Talk in 2027
- and overall sponsor benefits
Innovators Level: $2,540
- Recognition on art activity station signage
- Ticket privileges for 4 guests with valet parking
- VIP check-in with welcome toast to kick off the evening
- and overall sponsor benefits
Trailblazers Level: $1,540
- Logo recognition in print and digital materials
- Ticket privileges for 2 guests with valet parking
- VIP check-in with welcome toast to kick off the evening
- and overall sponsor benefits
Friends Level: $540
- Text recognition on event materials and Art Bash webpage
- Ticket privileges for 2 guests with valet parking
- VIP check-in with welcome toast to kick off the evening
Featured Artists
Honoray Co-Chairs Shawn Brewster + Kaleah Smith are curating an extraordinary Live Art Bid including:
Current Sponsors
Sponsors are updated on a weekly basis.
VISIONARY
Debbie + Larry Robbins
INSPIRE
CREATE
Martha Krick + Adam Derbyshire
ENGAGE
Alan + Benjamin King
MEDIA
IN KIND
EXPERIENCE
FRIENDS
Dianna Wynn + Brian Holland
Dr. Jeanette Beckwith
Patel Squared Fund
Contact Information
Friday, August 14 is the deadline to be included as a sponsor on the printed and mailed invitation.
Sponsorship can be paid at the time of commitment with signed letter of intent or invoiced for payment at future date on or before September 1, 2026. Please reach out to us directly if you have any questions or need additional information:
Carly Jones
President + CEO
cjones@artspacenc.org
Nathalie Tondeur
Director of Development
ntondeur@artspacenc.org