The Art Association of Jacksonville has announced its 69th annual Beaux Arts Ball, titled "Liberty in Bloom," scheduled for April 25 at Illinois College’s Rammelkamp Chapel. As the association’s primary fundraiser, the event supports the operations, educational programming, and maintenance of the historic David Strawn Art Gallery, which has served the community since the association's founding in 1873.
The fundraiser is vital for sustaining the gallery’s mission of providing free monthly exhibits and accessible art education for both children and adults. By funding the upkeep of the 1880s-era Strawn building and its diverse permanent collections—ranging from Mississippian Native American pottery to antique dolls—the ball ensures the continued presence of a regional cultural hub in Jacksonville, Illinois.