The sounds of opera, the smell of paint, the sight of ballerinas, the taste of champagne.
These sensations will fill Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts Sunday during the third annual "All for the Hall" fund-raiser in Annapolis.
"It's going to show off all the events available here," said Theresa G. Strobel, a Maryland Hall spokeswoman. The event will raise money to help renovate the building, which is more than 60 years old, she said.
The Annapolis Opera, Ballet Theatre of Annapolis, Annapolis Chorale and members of the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra will perform, as will children from the Talent Machine Company. A dozen painters, photographers and other artists will conduct workshops and demonstrations in their studios.
Resident artists say the event captures the eclectic nature of Maryland Hall, where artists exchange advice and ideas.
"I paint portraits because I like to work with people," said Bonnie Roth, who has worked in a sunlit studio at the center of the building since 1985. "Talking to other artists and being in a community, it's so much better than being on your own."
The three-story brick building, which once was Annapolis High School, was converted to an arts center in 1979. Its large windows, high ceilings and cavernous rooms are natural spaces for artists' studios, although the building's lack of air conditioning has made summertime use difficult.
The center is trying to raise $100,000 Sunday night so that it can begin installing a cooling system in the auditorium, and it plans to add air conditioning to the rest of the building later.
Painter John Ebersberger said the evening will illustrate how much local artists depend on the center. "It's really nice to be in a drawing class and hear symphony music down the hall," he said.
The event, which offers desserts and champagne, begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35.
