The WimberleyArt & Soul Soirée held at the Videre Estate last week celebrated the organization’s ten years of guiding arts and art culture in the Wimberley valley and demonstrated impressive support from the community. Two hundred guests attended the fundraiser which included dinner, dancing, silent and live auctions and the opportunity to experience the four pillars that are supported by Wimberley Arts.
To illustrate the literary pillar, guests could browse and bid on a collection of books from Chick Morgan and an antique Underwood typewriter from Susan Rigby. For the visual arts, DR Jones painted a portrait live, and artwork, which included a stained glass panel from Jack Roseman and a glass boot and antlers by Jason Lawson, were offered in the live auction. To represent the performing arts, costumed actors from the Wim- berley Players greeted and engaged guests while musicians performed for most of the evening. To illustrate the culinary arts, guests could bid on a dinner at The Huntly, a Scottish castle in Kerrville.
During the fundraiser, WimberleyArts President Deidre Taylor addressed the guests and revealed the organization’s bold new vision for Wimberley.
“Tonight, we celebrate our 10-year anniversary as the proud steward of the Wimberley Valley Cultural District designation from the Texas Commission on the Arts, as well as the extension of this designation for another decade. That redesignation process involved a rigorous evaluation of the activities and accomplishments of our Cultural District over the past 10 years and the benefits to this community.”
Taylor went on to say that the Wimberley Valley’s identity as a unique creative enclave must be protected from the demands of growth in the decades ahead.
“At WimberleyArts we see it as our mission to take the lead in cultivating the creative life of our community,” Taylor said. “Our board is committed to strengthening our infrastructure so that, in collaboration with all community stakeholders, we can make the most of our Texas Cultural District designation and ultimately achieve our dream of developing and managing a cultural arts center for the Wimberley Valley.”
She followed her remarks with the announcement that the TCA has awarded WimberleyArts nearly $40,00 in grants to achieve their vision of a cultural arts center. The grants, for the years 2025-26 and 2026-27, required that they be matched by local funds. Taylor read a quote from one of the TCA’s grant evaluators, “WimberleyArts demonstrates an amazing commitment to arts and cultural initiatives. Their programs attract visitors and help define the community.”
A live auction followed, facilitated by David Ackel Auctions, that featured international travel packages, one-of-a-kind experiences and art pieces by local artists.
Taylor confirmed this week that the soirée raised enough money to fund the grants and that planning for the cultural art center was well underway.
