The Spirit of the Ball
The year is 1932. Thousands of Richmond’s cultural and social elite have arrived en masse to the Jefferson Hotel to catch the first glimpse of the Spirit of the Ball as she descends from the ceiling in an immense decorative tulip. Though it was a short-lived affair, the Beaux Arts Ball was THE party of the century!
Beaux Arts Ball at the Jefferson Hotel, 1932.
It was the one time of year when Richmonders cast aside the woes of The Great Depression and gathered in costume to celebrate the capital city’s rich arts culture.
The eclectic gathering, which took place between 1931 and 1933, was designed to raise awareness and funds for the Richmond Academy of Arts.
Live jazz bands, novelty acts, dancing girls, horses, parades and guest appearances by then New York Gov. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, revelers never knew what to expect at the Beaux Arts Ball. But one thing was certain: They were guaranteed to have a good time!
Unfortunately, the Richmond Academy of Arts never came to be and with that the annual elaborate gala that once attracted 10,000 partygoers went by the wayside. In the 80 years since, Richmond has never had another affair of this caliber… Until now.
Each January, in the spirit of the Beaux Arts Ball, the Art Deco Society of Virginia hosts its annual Jazz Age Preservation Ball. This Roaring ’20s gala is designed to raise awareness and funds for Art Deco preservation projects in the Commonwealth.
This year we are doing something different!
It has been 95 years since the discovery of King Tut’s tomb, and now TUTMANIA IS BACK for one night only!
Don your Ancient Egyptian finest and join us as we celebrate that fateful day in November of 1922, when a struggling archeologist named Howard Carter unearthed the tomb of one of Egypt’s now most famous pharaohs, King Tutankhamun, and the subsequent Egyptomania that followed.
About our Benefactor
We are pleased to announce that benefactor of the 2017 Jazz Age Preservation Ball is the Virginia Art Deco Mapping Project!
The 2017 Jazz Age Preservation Ball
To benefit the Virginia Art Deco Mapping Project
We are transforming the beautiful Beaux-Arts styled Bolling Haxall House into an Egyptian palace worthy of Ramses the Great for an evening!
We are over the moon to have Philadelphia’s own Drew Nugent and the Midnight Society on hand playing all the Egyptomania hits of the 1920s!
Photo by Jane Kratochvil
We also will have extra special guest performances, complimentary, Charleston dance lessons, 50/50 raffle, a silent and live auction, food, drinks, dancing and more! All with the proceeds going toward the Virginia Art Deco Mapping Project.
Event Sponsors
Ticket and Event Details
Saturday, February 11, 2017
211 East Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Admission
ADSVA Members: $40
General Admission: $50
Deluxe VIP Admission: $80
Tickets now on sale!
Please enjoy images from our past Preservation Ball
