You're invited to the 5th Annual Opening Gala!
Thursday, July 3, 2008

Benefiting The Cherry Creek Arts Festival 501(c)(3) non-profit mission and
year-round art education and outreach programs in Denver area schools.

An Exclusive Art Preview and Buying Opportunity
featuring select Visual Artists from the 2008 Arts Festival

2008 Distinguished Patron Honoree: JANUS
The Arts Festival annually honors passionate and dedicated contributors to Denver’s art community, art experiences and art education. The Arts Festival also expresses gratitude for contributions that directly support the Cherry Creek Arts Festival and its mission.

Dressy Casual to Cocktail

5p—7p: Clayton Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues: Opening Gala Reception sponsored by Classic Residence by Hyatt. VIP Reception with passed hors d’oeuvres, champagne and wine. Private art buying opportunity with 27 CCAF Visual Artists, elegant ambient live and strolling music.

7p—9p: Clayton Lane: JW Marriott Denver Grand Ballroom: Plated and served gourmet dinner, program and “Distinguished Patron” Honoree.

7p—10p:  “Artist Preview Event”, held on Clayton Street of Cherry Creek North, will feature beautiful Colorado evening temperatures, gorgeoausly lit streets and artist booths, spirited beverage opportunities, strolling entertainment and more – and admission is free to the public! This is a fabulous opportunity to get a “sneak peek” at 27 of the 230 juried visual artists exhibiting at the 2008 Cherry Creek Arts Festival.

9p—10p: Opening Gala Patrons re-join Artist Preview Event

Opening Gala Packages:
Corporate Tables of 10: $1,500
Individual VIP Packages: $150

CORPORATE TABLE VIP PACKAGES: Your $1,500 corporate table investment includes:
Ten (10) Opening Gala “Individual VIP Packages” (detail below)
Preferred table placement

INDIVIDUAL VIP PACKAGES:
Each $150 Opening Gala VIP package includes:

PRE-EVENT ACCESS:
June 10: Commemorative Poster Signing Party with the Artist
July 1: Festival Preview Celebration at the Loews Denver Hotel
July 3: Opening Gala: free parking, exclusive Opening Gala reception, art preview and purchase opportunity, gourmet plated and seated dinner program at the JW Marriott

ARTS FESTIVAL VIP AMENITIES: JULY 4, 5, 6:
Complimentary Festival VIP hospitality center credential access including lunch, Pepsi and Heineken products
Complimentary tickets: Artist Awards Reception: July 5
Complimentary Valet Parking at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center
Complimentary 2008 CCAF Commemorative Poster ($200 value): framed,†signed and numbered limited edition (one per household)

Please note that this event sells out annually, and
Opening Gala package sales are limited to 236.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE OPENING GALA TICKETS

For additional event assistance please call the Cherry Creek Arts Festival at 303.355.2787 x212

Special Thanks: Pepsi, Heineken and AmCap Incorporated

STRONGLY ENCOURAGED: Please arrive at the Opening Gala Reception (between 2nd  and 3rd on Clayton Street) promptly at 5:00pm to take full advantage of your exclusive art preview and purchasing experience.

PARKING: Complimentary Gala parking is available July 3 from 5:00pm - 10:00pm at the Clayton Lane Parking Garage at 2nd and Columbine. Valet Parking is also available the night of the gala for a small fee at the JW Marriott Denver. Gala Patrons and VIPs will enjoy complimentary Cherry Creek Shopping Center Valet Parking during the Arts Festival 10:00am - 10:00pm, July 4, 5, 6.

The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation. All Opening Gala proceeds benefit the Cherry Creek Arts Festival year-round art education and outreach programs in Denver area schools, which include the Mobile Art Collection, Arts in Action and Student Art Buying Program. Contributions in excess of $50 per reservation are fully tax deductible.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH videos about CCAF's year-round education programs

LEARN about all other CCAF Special Events:
Poster Signing Party: June 10
Festival Preview Celebration: July 1st
Artist Preview Event: July 3
Opening Gala: Thursday July 3
Click here for more information about each Special Event.

2008 Opening Gala Featured Visual Artists:
Michael Baxley, Ceramics, Overland Park, KS
John Herbon, Ceramics, Saint Ignace MI
Marti Mocahbee, Ceramics, Staunton VA
Daryl Thetford, Digital Art, Chattanooga TN
Beth Crowder, Drawing, West Union WV
Robert (Chip) DuPont, Drawing, Buda TX
Teresa Saia, Drawing, Seattle WA
Carol Hearty, Fiber, Carmel NY
Kelly Marshall, Fiber, Minneapolis MN
Louise Valentine, Fiber, Gibsons Canada
Scott Amrhein, Glass, Sherwood WI
George Raab, Graphics & Printmaking, Millbrook, Canada
Carol Fugmann, Jewelry, Webster NY
Sean Hill, Jewelry, Indio CA
Trish Stevenson, Jewelry, Black Earth WI
David Bacharach, Metalworks, Cockeysville MD
Marne Ryan, Metalworks, Anaheim CA
Robin Washburn, Metalworks, Marion IL
Ellie Diez-Massaro, Mixed Media, Winter Park FL
Suhas Bhujbal, Painting, San Francisco CA
Glenn Payne, Painting, Blue Springs MS
Andrew Skorut, Painting, Draper UT
Mark Stephenson, Photography, Sky Valley CA
William Thayer, Photography, Englewood FL
Ted Schaal, Sculpture, Loveland CO
Joel Hunnicutt, Wood, Siler City NC
Earl Walker, Jr., Wood, Leadville CO

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE OPENING GALA TICKETS