GREENFIELD — Hancock County Arts needed a fundraiser. But with the Gallery closed and a live event in the age of COVID-19 out of the question, where would the funding come from?
Alice Hedden, who has been on the board with Hancock County Arts since 2017 and is now serving as head of fundraising, hit on the idea of an auction. Originally scheduled to take place at the Ricks Centre, the event moved online at biddingforgood.com/HancockCountyArts, where arts supporters and interested bidders can peruse through more than 40 donated items from art to holiday décor to collectibles and experiences.
Once at the website, visitors will find an eclectic variety of items to bid on. For example, the Phoenix Flight Academy, with locations in Noblesville, Shelbyville and Columbus, is offering a Discovery Flight experience. The gift certificate, valued at $135, includes a 15-minute tutorial of the flight experience, a 30-minute flight with a certified instructor and a chance to control the aircraft.
A collection of three Santas, designed by Slovakian folk artist Pipka, is valued at $120.
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Like golf? Then bid on a $100 Top Golf gift certificate, where you can gather with friends for special events that include food against a musical background.
If sports are your thing, then you won’t want to miss the chance to bid on a Darius Leonard jersey and three Colts masks (valued at $125).
Other items up for auction include artwork by local artists Chris Sickels (a print of his trolley car mural valued at $80), Patrick Kleusner (a portrait of Santa Claus, valued at $250), Greg Gearlds (a framed photograph of a flower valued at $50), Abigail Apodaca (a redesigned vintage table painted with a dragon fly valued at $300) and several pieces by Carol Barrett and Janet Darling.
When the auction items were scheduled to preview at the Ricks, Hedden came up with the idea to add to the event with a little holiday festivity. She reached out to local performers — both individual and groups — to submit performance videos to play during the auction item preview.
Hedden’s collection of videos includes performances from the Hancock County Children’s Choir, the Hearts Ablaze cloggers, guitar player Rosemary Meagher and vocalist Amy Studabaker. Hedden plans to share the performances on the Hancock Arts Council’s Facebook page on the final day of bidding.
Studabaker was happy to submit a video. As choir director for the Irvington Presbyterian Church, Studabaker has learned the ins and out of filming selfie recordings. Using Garage Band and DaVinci Resolve, she put together a four-square of herself singing “Mr. Santa” to the tune of “Mr. Sandman.” In one frame, Studabaker’s cat Atari makes a cameo appearance.
Hedden will post the performance videos on the Facebook page on Dec. 12 so visitors to the site will have some Christmas entertainment while looking over items to bid or on waiting to see who wins. Bidding closes as 7:45 p.m. on December 12, and, thanks to the online format, winners will be announced immediately.
Hedden and Hancock County Arts plan to use the funds raised from the auction for workshops, events and to replace some of the gallery’s aging technology.
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Hancock County Arts is hosting an online auction now through 7:45 p.m. on December 12. Visit and bid at BiddingforGood.com/HancockCountyArts.
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