An anonymous donation sparked an idea that will benefit the Campus Martius and Ohio River museums-a dinner and jazz concert to be held Friday at the Lafayette Hotel.
The donation, according to interim museum manager, Leann Hendershot, who declined to name names, was purposely designated to bring the High Society Jazz band to town.
"That's where the idea for this event came from and this is the first of this type of event we've had," she said. "The event will benefit the Friends of the Museums and will help fund programs at both museums."
The High Society Jazz Band hails from Athens and has existed in various incarnations since the mid-70s, according to the band's bio. Formerly the Athens Dixieland Jazz Band, the band has consisted of Ohio University students and faculty.
"I think the idea came from an event we had to coincide with the Blues, Jazz (Folk Music) Society and that in this town there is a definite interest in this type of thing," offered Nancy Murdock, president of the Friends of the Museums board.
Last year an exhibit of photos by Dusty Blues, photographer for the River City Blues Competition, was on display for a couple months at the museum.
Fact Box
If you go
What: Jazzin' Up the Museums featuring High Society Jazz; a benefit for Friends of the Museums.
Where: The Lafayette Hotel Grand Ballroom.
When: Friday, starting at 6 p.m.
Tickets: Concert tickets may be purchased separately for $15 per person or $25 per couple or as a dinner/concert combination for $40 per person and $75 per couple; reservations are required for dinner. Visit campusmartiusmuseum.org for more information.
"We're basically just getting started as a board because up until two years ago, we were run by the Ohio Historical Society," said Murdock. "Our goal as a board is to periodically have events like these to help raise money for programs and for general operations."
Many programs are geared toward children and spring is typically a busy time of year when schools visit the museums, according to Hendershot. Hometown History on Wheels is just one type of program offered by the museums. The purpose is to offer transportation to area schools and the program benefits from donations and events like Jazzin' Up the Museums.
The Ohio River Museum and the W.P. Snyder will open for the season in early April. Other upcoming events include The Civil War in Song, featuring musician Steve Ball on March 18, a series called Brown Baggin' Through History, beginning on April 6, where folks can spend their lunch hour listening to a speaker talk about local history, and the annual Welcome Back Carp event on April 7.
Friday's jazz concert and dinner will feature a cash bar beginning at 6 p.m., a salmon and prime rib buffet from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and music beginning at 8 p.m. All ages are welcome and tickets start at $15. For information, visit www.campusmartiusmuseum.org or call 373-3750.
