Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Raises Funds, Community at Ornament Auction

The Yoknapatawpha Arts Council hosted its Holiday Ornament Auction on Friday, December 12, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at The Powerhouse, 413 S 14th Street in Oxford. The evening brought community members together to celebrate local creativity while raising funds for the council's programming in Lafayette County.

Attendees enjoyed live music, food and cocktails as they toured tables of handcrafted ornaments created by local artists. The ornaments were available for purchase, providing direct sales opportunities for participating makers and channeling funds back into the local arts ecosystem. The event also offered a chance to renew Yoknapatawpha Arts Council memberships, an ongoing revenue source that helps sustain classes, exhibitions and outreach efforts throughout the year.

A raffle gave guests the opportunity to win a Jere Allen painting titled Angel, adding a high profile incentive for donors and collectors. All proceeds from the Ornament Auction and the raffle were designated to support the Arts Council's mission to promote the arts as a cultural and economic driver in Lafayette County. That mission frames arts activity not only as cultural enrichment but also as a contributor to the local economy through artist income, visitor spending and community events that increase foot traffic for nearby businesses.

For local artists, the event functioned as both marketplace and exposure platform, placing handcrafted work directly in front of residents and seasonal visitors who are looking for distinctive holiday gifts. For the Arts Council, the auction plays an annual role in funding educational programming and gallery operations that serve schools, emerging artists and community audiences across the county.

The Holiday Ornament Auction continued a pattern of community based events that blend fundraising with cultural engagement. By combining social gathering, direct sales and membership outreach, the evening reinforced the Arts Council's role in Lafayette County's cultural life and in supporting the local creative economy as the region moves into the new year.