A great party blurs the line between strangers and friends, allows you to be your best self for a few hours, and leaves an ‘afterglow,’ which, if I am being honest, can include a bit of a headache the next day. The Baltimore Museum of Art’s 2025 Gala and After Party accomplished all of this and more.
If you’ve read my recent Substack letter about hosting parties and fundraisers in service of the arts, you know I take them quite seriously. Over the past decade I have tested out a number of models for hosting large and small events, and I have been met with both success and failure. When I have the opportunity, I love to attend these kinds of parties as a guest, which is a lot more fun than being the host. I am always surprised by some aspect of the event, and this gives me inspiration towards whatever I am planning next.
For a party designed to raise funds, first and foremost, there should be a lot of zeros proclaimed in the following press release. According to the BMA, this year’s Ball and After Party, hosted last Saturday, Nov. 22, raised over $1.1 Million, “with proceeds from the record-setting event designated help the museum continue to elevate artists, connect local and global narratives, expand its educational programs, and provide more meaningful art experiences for students, families, and adults throughout the state of Maryland.” (For context, last year their Ball raised $1 Million, according to the press releases and this year’s Walters Gala raised close to $700,000.)
From where I stand, that’s a lot of zeros. I think we can all agree that the BMA has been killing it over the past few years with blockbuster exhibits like The Culture, Joyce J. Scott, Nicholas Galanin, Black Earth Rising, and LaToya Ruby Frazier, followed by the colossal coup that is the last minute Amy Sherald: American Sublime exhibit after its cancellation at the National Portrait Gallery. What I am seeing in all of these exhibits is an emphasis on relevant social issues, a balance between local and global artists, and a thoughtful incorporation of Baltimore as context for art. So, I hope the money raised continues to go towards excellent programming and making it easier for more people to visit and engage with the art.
Fall is officially “Gala Season,” and it is now wrapping up for the holidays. In addition to attending this year’s BMA Ball and After Party, I was also able to be at The Walter’s Gala and After Party in October. For me, it was interesting to compare and contrast these events to my own experience of planning and manifesting a smaller scale BmoreArt Icons Ball and Benefit last month as well, considering what makes a truly successful party.
No matter how many zeros are in your fundraising crosshairs, it’s essential to make your guests feel a strong connection to the place, to feel like they were part of an experience that was truly special. Whether you’re a trustee, the guest of a trustee, the purchaser of a ticket, the recipient of an “Artists Who Inspire” award (Wangechi Mutu and Amy Sherald this year), or the Sherman Family, whose foundation received the “Changemaker Who Inspires” Award, it’s important for these kinds of events to reinforce a sense of shared hospitality and community. Also, if I’m being honest, one main draw is the opportunity to make a bold fashion statement.
For weeks before our Icons Ball, as well as the Walters and BMA Galas, so many text messages were traded with one critical question: What are you wearing? I know that the Walters created a Pinterest mood board for their guests, as they include a thematic challenge for their event. For ours, we suggested “creative cocktail or whatever makes you feel Iconic,” which provoked a wide range of elegant and over-the-top fashion statements.
At the BMA this year, the looks were elegant and glamorous, perhaps inspired by Amy Sherald’s status as a global fashionista. Dorothy Wallis Wagner Museum Director Dr. Asma Naeem looked stunning in a pale pink strapless gown, with Sherald and Mutu, both honored guests, in black layered and sheer ensembles. A lot of the men wore tuxes, some in suits, and I saw one or two in a traditional kilt, with women in longer gowns in satins and silks or embellished with sequins. On the whole, the crowd was impeccably appointed, which is why BmoreArt asked photographer E. Brady Robinson to capture the event.
For me, getting dressed up to look and feel a part of something glamorous is always a thrill, especially within gorgeous museum architecture surrounded by significant works of art. Seeing so many friends and colleagues who put a lot of effort into their appearance and recognizing their creativity through fashion and jewelry is a pleasure. The opportunity to come together as a community, to see and be seen, to greet and be greeted, offers much of the charm of the event. At the BMA, seeing the Amy Sherald exhibit was also a treat that night.
After a seated dinner, guests put their coats on, left via the front door, and then walked around to the Zamoiski entrance for the After Party, hosted in the main lobby, Gertrude’s, and under a heated tent that gave Miami Beach vibes. Guests were happy to continue the party with drinks and dancing, and a variety of performances and activities including a live painting performance by Kohlpece. I will confess I didn’t last too long at the After Party. We had started the evening at 6 pm, with our son at home, and we needed to get home by 11.
According to the BMA, “more than 400 guests attended the November 22 BMA Ball and another 200 attended the After Party,” which just shows the love people have for this museum and the hunger to participate in events like this.
From my own experience, attempting to create an event including cocktails, dinner, remarks, awards, and dancing for this many guests requires a huge amount of labor and care in planning and execution. Attempting to do ANYTHING with 400+ people is kind of insane, and for me at least, halting the party to deliver remarks to recognize important guests, say thank you, and communicate a message is always going to be a challenge.
I have mixed feelings about doing this myself, as it’s just difficult for this many people to see and hear, especially when standing up and not in a theater setting designed for films or speeches. It’s difficult to keep this many people’s attention, especially when a bar is beckoning nearby, and the BMA attempted to circumvent this by placing video monitors around the perimeter so guests could watch and sit down. My thinking is that it’s always better to keep remarks short and to send more detailed messages in a follow up email, and to let people mingle and interact. I absolutely love capturing an event in photos that can be widely shared and enjoyed.
Many thanks to Brady for the beautiful photos and making us all look so good! Cheers to the BMA for their great accomplishment and I hope now everyone can get some hard earned rest. Unless you’re heading to Miami next week…
All photos by E. Brady Robinson for BmoreArt, unless otherwise noted.
