Its time, once again, to make your reservations for Southern Heartland Art Guild’s annual fundraiser, Monte Carlo for the Arts This event is sponsored by Southern Heartland Art Gallery, United Bank and Air Conditioning Specialist, Inc. and will be held Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. at the Event Facility located in the Porterdale Mill Lofts complex. Guests will enjoy a dinner buffet with performing artists acting as "casino dealers." The order of the evening is a social gathering, followed by a prime rib dinner buffet, live auction with creative gifts and getaways, silent auction for art and games of chance. The format has changed, this year, so that people not wishing to play the games may come and enjoy the dinner and auctions.

According to Susan Adams, Board Chair of SHA Inc., proceeds of the event will go into the organization’s educational fund, which provides for art scholarships to graduating seniors at all three of the county’s high schools; it also offers scholarships (based on need) for SHA Inc. summer art camp program for children. Other proceed benefactors include classrooms for ongoing art classes, "Paint Party," a free and open to the public weekly community outreach program where locals can paint and draw with an in-resident mentor-artist, and the annual fall art show, "Artful Harvest," which draws artists from throughout the state of Georgia.

Southern Heartland Arts Inc. was incorporated as a nonprofit organization for the visual arts in 1988 and hosted an annual art festival for 17 years, prior to opening the visual arts center and gallery on the square in 2004. The organization is a totally volunteer organization with no administrative overhead or salaried personnel, nor does it receive taxpayer dollars from the city or county. It relies primarily on dues from its members and this fundraiser for its community outreach programs. Any person interested in our outreach programs or the cultural enrichment the visual arts bring to our community is encouraged to join our guild. Forty percent of all dues goes into our scholarship fund and is tax deductible.

Susan Wahl, co-chair of the Monte Carlo fundraiser, said, "This event is an entertaining format for men, as well as for women. Attendees don’t mind the ticket price when they realize it includes professional entertainment, in addition to drinks and a delicious full course dinner. They also appreciate the opportunity to bid for trips and prizes at greatly reduced prices."

Wahl also expressed appreciation to the many businesses and individuals who have provided funds to help defray event expenses and have donated unique gifts for auction and raffle prizes. A complete list of sponsors will be listed in the program at the event, as well as at Southern Heartland Gallery on the Square, in the quarterly newsletter and on SHA’s Web site www.southernheartlandart.com.

For additional information or to make a reservation, contact Susan Wahl at (770) 464-0065 or call the gallery at (770) 788-8799.

Reservations will close Jan. 27.