The Art Alliance of Idyllwild and the Associates of Idyllwild Arts Foundation have formed a committee to collaborate. Committee members (from left, back row) are Patrick Barry, Shanna Robb, Dave Robb and Michael Slocum; (from left, front row) Kathy Halkin, Diana Kurr, Barbara Kinoshita, Annamarie Padula, Jorgine Brause, Byron Ely, Erin O’Neill, Linda Anderson and Karen Johnston. Not shown is Peter Szabadi. Photo by John Drake
The Art Alliance of Idyllwild and the Associates of Idyllwild Arts Foundation have formed a committee to collaborate. Committee members (from left, back row) are Patrick Barry, Shanna Robb, Dave Robb and Michael Slocum; (from left, front row) Kathy Halkin, Diana Kurr, Barbara Kinoshita, Annamarie Padula, Jorgine Brause, Byron Ely, Erin O’Neill, Linda Anderson and Karen Johnston. Not shown is Peter Szabadi.
Photo by John Drake

The Art Alliance of Idyllwild is collaborating with the Associates of Idyllwild Arts Foundation in presenting this year’s 19th-annual Art Walk and Wine Tasting. While this is a new partnership, the Saturday, Oct. 8, event will remain under the direction of AAI with a number of chair positions being filled by Associates.

As explained by Shanna Robb, AAI president and event chair, “With our shared directives to keep art alive and our individual track records of orchestrating great community events, this collaboration is a natural fit.”

In 2015, net proceeds from the event were more than $20,000 which allowed AAI to fund a number of organizations and events that fell within its mission, including the Associates. This year, AAI will donate 40 percent of net proceeds from the event directly to the Associates in return for filling key chair and volunteer positions.

Michael Slocum, Associates president, recently wrote, “I am once again proud of the Associates; we, as a group and individually, are always willing to step out and support our community. This is another example.”

This year’s fundraiser will again feature an entire day experience with artist booths set up around town starting at 10 a.m., followed by the wine tasting from 2 to 5 p.m. As of print, 17 Southern California wineries are confirmed for the event. With only 1,200 tickets available, the event committee anticipates that the Oct. 8 event will be sold out in advance.

The joining of forces between the two large nonprofits is allowing the event to expand with the addition of a VIP Event on Friday night. Friday night attendees will be treated to mingling with the wineries. Event details are in the works with limited tickets available.

Online ticket sales for the wine tasting will open this week at www.artinidyllwild.org.