The Art of Masquerade

Yellowstone Art Museum’s first Masquerade Ball successfully packed the museum with more than 400 party-goers. Attendees at the sold-out fundraising bash took to the theme in grand style, clad in anything from ball gowns to ghoulish face paint to one attendee in a towel and mud facial mask.

Billings AlternaCirque hung from the rafters of the museum, performing aerial acts and serving as bartenders while DJ Benefit kept an energetic vibe. Though lines were long, event attendees who stuck to it had tarot card readings and were taken on a ghost tour of the museum.

Numbers aren’t in for the total amount raised just yet, but ticket price math seems to equal a success. What may have seemed like an outlandish event for the historically conservative museum showed a wilder side to nonprofit fundraising, hopefully smashing the idea that raising funds is best left to auctioneers and black-tie attire.