Thank You Event Sponsors!

Gold Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

City of Apple Valley

Valleywood Golf Course

If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please visit our webpage linked here!

About Dakota Center for the Arts

Dakota Center for the Arts (DCA) is a 501c(3) organization whose mission it is to develop, promote, and encourage participation in and appreciation of the arts.

The DCA Gala: A Night of Art & Philanthropy is a ticketed, formal event that will be held at Valleywood Golf Course in Apple Valley, MN, on Saturday, October 18, 2025. The purpose of this event is to promote and celebrate the work of local, Minnesota artists and to support the growth of our organization.

2023 EAF

Attendees of the Annual Eagan Art Festival participating in an artist demonstration. Participants get to take home the item they create after learning floral watercolor techniques from local artist Anwesha Guha.

Our organization has a long history of arts advocacy that began when DCA was chartered in 1963 as the non-profit Fine Art Society of Dakota County to provide programming and community engagement in the visual arts. From 2007-2024, the primary focus of DCA was the EAF, celebrating 30 years in 2024. As DCA looks to the future, our Board of Directors wishes to expand our reach and current programming in three key areas:

(1) Supporting Local Artists

(2) Providing Free Art Experiences for the Public

(3) Contributing to Arts Education Initiatives

Each of these goals was already being met by our organization through the annual EAF, the Terry B. Davis Scholarship to high school seniors pursuing a degree in the visual arts (since 2010), and our participation in Eagan Art Block. Now, we are thrilled to add to this programming by hosting the DCA Gala in October.

2024 Terry B. Davis Recipients

DCA Vice President, Abhi Kumar (left), and DCA President, Christy Williams (right), standing with students Trinity Riordan (center left) and Olivia Varpness (center right) as they are awarded the 2024 Terry B. Davis / Dakota Center for the Arts scholarship hosted by the Eagan Community Foundation.

All funds raised for this event will go toward expanding DCA programming in 2026. Such initiatives will include additional Terry B. Davis Scholarships for high school seniors and an emerging artist fellowship program. With your support, we look forward to expanding our programming and creating meaningful experiences for artists and the public alike!

DCA Gala: A Night of Art & Philanthropy

An In-Person & Online Auction Celebrating Minnesota Artists