The Meri Goyette Arts Award Luncheon provides the Greater Nashua arts community and art lovers with an annual gala to Celebrate the Arts, raise funds to help support local arts projects, programs and promotion, recognize key arts supporters, and be entertained by local and state talent. live entertainment, champagne, a three-course lunch, live and silent auctions, fun games and more. In honor of National Poetry Month, this year’s festivities will center around the art of poetry through the spoken word, dance, music and live painting.
This year, proceeds from the Fund-A-Need Initiative will benefit an arts supply fund that will help cover the cost of materials for local arts groups and organizations in need of support.
Sky Meadow Country Club, Sunday, April 14, 2019, 11:00 AM
6 Mountain Laurels Drive, Nashua NH
Ticket Sales are Closed
Listen Nashuans and you shall hear
Of how the arts come to be here.
Music and theatre were first on the list
With concerts and acting not to be missed.
Art shows and events,
Drew crowds to the park,
Yes, these too played
An important part.
Sculptures then appeared on the scene.
Works by artists, stand proud and tall,
Through New Hampshire’s
Winter, spring,
Summer and fall.
This was our beginning
However, there’s more left to do…
Fundraising is necessary
And I ask help from you.
-Meri Goyette
Our Fund-A-Need Auction
This year’s Fund-A-Need Auction proceeds will benefit an arts supply fund that will help cover the cost of materials for local arts groups and organizations in need of support. If you'd like to contribute but can't attend, no problem, donate directly below! Your funds will purchase supplies such as : kilns, etching presses, tap shoes, spray paint, rehearsal keyboards, costume rentals, finger paint, tabletop easels, and ballet slippers.
The 2019 Arts Awards Recipients: Presented by Mayor Jim Donchess
Photos by Allegra Boverman
Arts Hero Award: Brian McCarthy
A Nashua Alderman for years, Brian was a longtime supporter and mentor for City Arts Nashua and a champion for the arts and culture in the Nashua schools and community. Brian’s support, in particular, for the planned Nashua Performing Arts Center was well known. City Arts Nashua is honoring his memory and work.
Individual: Meghan Durden
Meghan is the Nashua School District, K-5 Art District Coordinator. She is being honored for her outstanding commitment to and participation in the Gallery at the Wall project in Downtown Nashua. -As a committee participant, working with and communicating with fellow teachers across the entire Nashua School District, collecting the vast array of art and running the Selection Night when judging took place. She also worked closely with the Nashua Telegraph newspaper on student recognition.
Small Business: Stella Blu
Open since 2008, this tapas restaurant has had a long-standing commitment to downtown Nashua, and a tradition of philanthropy and community involvement in myriad ways, in particular for the arts. They feature a rotating gallery of local artwork in their restaurant, regularly schedule live music and entertainment at the restaurant, and are a vocal supporter of downtown initiatives that support the arts, including the Performing Arts Center. They have donated generously of their time, talent, and “treasure” for countless projects and organizations, including a mixology (cocktail making) night event for City Arts Nashua’s live auction at last year’s luncheon, and are an unofficial home of City Arts Nashua’s many committee meetings.
Large Business: Southern NH Medical Center
Led by Michael Rose and Betsy Houde, they run an outstanding program titled “The Art of Hope” which features local artists who create uplifting and hopeful works of art to inspire and encourage patients and visitors in the Behavioral Health Unit of Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in downtown Nashua. SNHMC is recognizing art as part of their pursuit of improving the health of the community. Mike and Betsy assembled a very talented group of artists, placed their work on prominent display, and helped promote the artists and the “Art of Hope” program through events and on the hospital’s website.
Three Course Luncheon with Entertainment
Each year the Meri Goyette Arts Award Champagne Luncheon and Auction features some of the best acts in the Nashua area, to keep you entertained while you enjoy your three-course lunch and to showcase our local talent.
Y Dance in Motion, will perform two hip-hop dances and one contemporary dance. Based at The YMCA of Greater Nashua, they are a competition and performance group team comprised of girls ages 11-17 which competes regionally and nationally. They also perform at local community events, nursing homes, and give back to the community with performance any way they can.
Photo by allegra boverman
Michaila Sheehan will be creating a painting live during our luncheon this year! It will be inspired by a favorite poem. She is currently an undergraduate art student at Plymouth State University majoring in art education with a focus on painting. She grew up in Nashua and her love for painting and art began in high school; she happens to have also been taught by our Individual Arts Award Winner, Meghan Ryan Durden! She enjoys oil painting along with drawing in charcoal. Her subjects range from etherial abstract paintings to realistic charcoal portraits. Each year she participates in Nashua’s ArtWalk and she has had her work exhibited at the George H. & Ella M. Rodgers Memorial Library in Hudson.
Cate Dixson will be reading her poetry. She is New Hampshire's Youth Poet Laureate and a junior at Exeter High School. She said she has always balanced her affinity for words with her early-life struggle with social speaking. Cate is the founder and captain of her school's Poetry Team with the goal of creating opportunities for emerging poets.
Musician Stephen Poirier will be performing on violin. Stephen has been playing violin for over 30 years and still adheres to the advice given by Schinichi Suzuki, the founder of the Suzuki Method, “You don’t have to practice every day, just on the days you eat!” Stephen, who started with violin at 4, kicked off his musical career as a teen performing at Italian restaurants and playing gigs at weddings and special events around New England, which he still does. He graduated from Hartt School of Music and received a Bachelor of Music Education. He was orchestra director in the Manchester School District, assistant Director of the N.H. Youth Ensemble and was director of the String Ensemble at Pinkerton Academy. He has performed with Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the New Hampshire Philharmonic. He teaches at the Seacoast Academy of Music and is orchestra director of the Salem School District.
Silent and Live Auctions
Visit our auction page to check out our exciting array of 2019 Auction Items for your bidding pleasure including great wines, snacks, jewelry, apparel, beauty items, collectibles, gift certificates, and many other items from our generous local merchants.
Mike Morin
Our 2019 Live Auctioneer!
Mike Morin, a humorous and beloved longtime radio and TV broadcaster, writer working on his third book, newspaper and magazine columnist and voiceover artist and speaker in the region for years, will oversee the live auctions.
The Fund-A-Need auction segment will help worthy organizations and projects in the area who badly need art supplies for their creative programs.
Part of the silent auction will feature select New England team sports memorabilia and will be in honor of Brian McCarthy and his love of the New England Patriots. Auction items purchased during this segment will go toward the Nashua Performing Arts Center, also in honor of Brian.
Photo by John Hession
Look for special Sports Related silent auction items…
-in honor of Brian McCarthy
Our live auction will feature a: Wine Tasting Experience at Cava De Vino, Lunch and Stroll with Nashua Mayor Jim Donchess, South African Photo Safari with Zulu Nyala, Mixology 101 at Stella Blu, Tour of the Currier Museum with Dr. Alan Chong, Golf Outing at Sky Meadow Country Club, and a Family Photography Session by Mark Bolton. Visit our auction page for more details.
Venue
Thank you to Sky Meadow Country Club, 6 Mountain Laurels Drive, Nashua NH for their hospitality and use of such a beautiful facility. The all bent grass golf course, formerly rated #1 in New Hampshire by Golf Digest magazine, is consistently maintained to the highest quality standards.
Photo by Allegra Boverman
Sponsors
Arts and Culture are the Heart and Soul of a Community. A big Thank You to our generous sponsors for supporting this event:
