By Sam Skopp
Local nonprofit A Window Between Worlds, which provides art education to those who have experienced violence or trauma, held its annual Art in the Afternoon fundraising event on Saturday, May 6, for the 18th year in a row.
The event saw people from throughout the region join in for a worthy cause and included catered food, art booths, games, children’s activities and a silent auction to raise money for the organization.
Emily Anne Evans, Marketing and Communications Manager for A Window Between Worlds, explained that the yearly event is an opportunity for them to share participant workshops used as part of their healing process with a larger audience. Originally, the event was held in their parking lot, but they outgrew the space and have since relocated the vent to the Venice Skills Center, on 5th Avenue.
This year saw the addition of bubble rollers, which were human-sized spheres kids could get inside of and roll around in, a dreamcatcher workshop, and catered food by Fresh Brothers. Another series of tables instructed children in building a rain stick from scratch.
“Our main activity always changes,” said Evans. “So the rain sticks are new this year.”
Next to a main stage, a number of Disney Channel actors were greeting fans and signing autographs, including “Dog With a Blog” star G Hannelius, who was hosting the event for her 8th year.
“I’m so happy to be here supporting this amazing cause,” said Hannelius.
Some of the day’s activities included yoga and dance workshops held from the stage, hula hooping, and a painted community mural, with anyone in attendance invited to participate.
Last year, A Window Between Worlds launched 21 new programs for adults and worked with 17,970 different participants. The proceeds from ticket sales and the silent auction will go toward helping the organization grow into this coming year.
For more information about A Window Between Worlds, visit awbw.org.
