Join Us at ARTS by George!
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Featuring headliner Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
Chair: Annie Bolger
In 2025, more than $290,000 was raised in support for student scholarships!
This annual fall benefit event supports student scholarships for George Mason University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts, Mason Community Arts Academy, Green Machine Ensembles, and the Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts.
The evening features showcases by talented Mason Arts students throughout our studio and performance spaces complimented by a buffet dinner and culminates with an exciting headliner performance by Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall.
ARTS by George! has raised more than $4.6 million since it began in 2006. Don't miss your chance to support the 2026 event: Sponsor ARTS by George! today.
Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra headline the 21st annual ARTS by George! in a wickedly entertaining performance you won’t want to miss.
Goldblum—currently The Wizard of Oz in the global box office hit Wicked alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo—has enjoyed a celebrated six-decade career spanning film, television, and stage, with credits including Jurassic Park, Independence Day, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok. He founded the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra more than 30 years ago, and together they have performed for audiences worldwide, reimagining jazz classics and American Songbook favorites with signature charm and swing.
Time Out raves, “Goldblum tickles the ivories as well as the audience… We’re smitten.”
ARTS by George!
Saturday, October 3, 2026
Attire: Creative cocktail
Free parking provided in the Mason Pond Parking Deck
5 p.m. Dinner and Mason Arts showcases, deLaski Performing Arts Building
8 p.m. Presentation and Alumni Performance, Concert Hall
8:30 p.m. Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra
10 p.m. Onstage Dessert Reception
Email us or call 703-993-3872.
Chair of the Mason Arts Board, Vicki Salmon, and her husband John, talk about their support for Mason Arts students and their love of ARTS by George!
Section 1: An Evening Like No Other: What to Expect at ARTS by George!
Q: What is ARTS by George!?
A: ARTS by George! is the flagship benefit event for Mason Arts in Fairfax. Guests experience the creativity of our students and faculty firsthand, enjoy a festive dinner and headline performance, and help ensure that promising artists have the scholarships they need to succeed and that the entire community has access to affordable arts programs.
Proceeds from the 2025 event were equal to about 30% of all CVPA scholarships awarded that year. Your support surrounding this one night is a huge part of what makes it possible for our students to reach the highest levels of academic and artistic achievement during their time at George Mason and go on to flourish in their careers.
Q: What is the timeline of events?
A: ARTS by George! is a fantastic evening filled with fun, thought-provoking, interactive, and varied works of visual art, performing arts, film, computer games, and more. On Saturday, October 3, 2026, your ARTS by George! experience includes:
- 5 p.m. – Dinner, bar, and dessert stations and a variety of Mason Arts student showcases in the deLaski Performing Arts Building and Harris Theatre
- 8 p.m. – Remarks, Student Scholarship Paddle Raise, and Alumni Performance in the
- 8:30 p.m. – Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra concert
- 10 p.m. – Onstage dessert reception with fellow supporters and a toast from the artist*
Q: Who benefits from my gift?
A: Your participation supports:
- Scholarships for students in visual arts, dance, music, theater, film, game design, and arts management
- Mason Community Arts Academy
- Green Machine Ensembles
- The Great Performances at Mason season at the Center for the Arts
Section 2: Choosing Your Impact
Q: What’s the difference between an ARTS by George! full experience ticket and a Concert-Only ticket?
- ARTS by George! full experience tickets:
- Support student scholarships and Mason Arts programs with a portion of the ticket cost going directly to these funds.
- Include a buffet dinner with open bar, dozens of student and faculty showcases, premium orchestra seating for the Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra concert, onstage dessert reception with the artist*, and garage parking.
- Concert-Only tickets:
- Provide admission to the 8:30 p.m. concert only.
- Do not include the pre-event dinner, showcases, parking, or dessert reception.
- Do not include a donation, though you may opt to add a donation of any amount to your purchase to support the benefit.
- Must be purchased through the Center for the Arts Ticket Office. Visit the for on-sale dates and additional information.
If your goal is to invest in the next generation of artists, we encourage you to purchase an ARTS by George! full experience ticket or sponsorship.
Q: How can I deepen my support?
A: Sponsorships offer expanded impact and recognition at several levels, including:
- Additional tickets to the full benefit experience.
- A larger charitable amount going directly to students and programs, tax deductible to the full extent of the law.
- Premium seating for you and your guests in the Concert Hall.
- VIP lounge seating in the buffet area (Producer level and up).
- Visibility on the ARTS by George! website, in the program, and on event signage.
- Recognition for your support in digital playbills throughout the year and the Mason Arts annual report.
- Invitations to special Mason Arts events throughout the year.
Explore sponsorship levels and benefits or contact Amanda Snellings, Associate Director of Development, or call 703‑993‑1593 for more information.
Q: How do I purchase tickets or a sponsorship?
A: Individual tickets are $450 ($275) in benefits. Sponsorships start at $2,500. For full experience tickets and sponsorships, register online or contact Amanda Snellings, Associate Director of Development, or call 703-993-1593.
To purchase concert-only tickets, visit the for on-sale dates and how to add the concert to a Center for the Arts 2026–27 season subscription as a Special Event add-on. Individual concert-only tickets go on sale August 4, 2026.
Q: Can I contribute through a gift from my IRA or Donor Advised Fund (DAF)?
A: Per IRS regulations, qualified charitable deduction (QCD) gifts made through IRA or DAF to ARTS by George! cannot include benefits, which includes tickets to attend the event. Guests wishing to sponsor through this method should purchase individual tickets with personal funds for all attendees and separately request a 100% charitable gift of any amount from their IRA or DAF. We will recognize sponsors at the level of their cumulative giving to the event. When requesting a gift from an IRA or DAF, please select George Mason University Foundation EIN: 54-1603842 as the recipient and include a note mentioning designation to ARTS by George! Please contact Amanda Snellings or call 703-993-1593 with any questions.
Q: I am affiliated with the University. Can I get a discount?
A: Alumni tickets are available for $350 ($275 in benefits) and can be purchased by current students or alumni of George Mason University. CVPA faculty and staff will be contacted separately regarding opportunities to participate in the event and attend the concert. We cannot offer any additional discounts at this time. Concert-Only tickets will be available at a variety of price points and as a 2026-27 season subscription add-on.
Q: My student is performing in one of the showcases. Can I come in just to watch their showcase without a ticket?
A: Only ticketed attendees of ARTS by George! may participate in any part of the event. We hope you will consider joining us for the full experience or at a future student performance!
Section 3: Event Details
Q: Will I get to meet Jeff Goldblum? Will he greet the public or sign my playbill/posters/memorabilia?
A: Jeff Goldblum may appear onstage during the dessert reception briefly for a toast*. Any additional interaction with attendees is at the artist’s discretion. This is not a meet-and-greet event. At this time, we will not be able to coordinate signatures or photo opportunities. Should additional opportunities become available, we will share it closer to the event.
*Artist appearance subject to availability
Q: What is the suggested attire for ARTS by George!?
A: Festive/creative cocktail. Many guests enjoy expressing their style through color, pattern, or artistic flair. We recommend comfortable shoes for light to moderate walking between studios, galleries, and performance spaces. Seating is available in many locations throughout the night.
Q: Is parking included?
A: Yes. Complimentary parking is provided in the Mason Pond Parking Deck for ARTS by George! guests. Parking passes will be emailed to guests in advance of the event to print or show on a mobile device. Take the elevator to the 3rd level for direct access to Wilkins Plaza and the deLaski Performing Arts Building to check in at the registration table.
Q: How do I turn in my guests’ names?
A: Email Amanda Snellings with names, email addresses, and any food allergies or accessibility requirements for each of your tickets. Please include yourself in this list, unless you are not attending.
Q: How do I get my physical tickets?
A: Starting at 5 p.m., there will be a registration table outside the deLaski Performing Arts Building on Wilkins Plaza. Pick up a packet with your concert tickets and ARTS by George! event program books by letting our volunteers know your last name. The packets will be under your own last name as provided to us by the person who purchased the tickets, regardless of who booked the tickets. Tickets are not available to be picked up before the event begins.
If you arrive after 7:30pm, you will be directed to pick up your packet and tickets at the Will Call window at the Center for the Arts Concert Hall.
Q: How much walking is involved?
A: Expect light to moderate walking between studios, galleries, and performance spaces. Seating is available in many locations throughout the night.
Q: Is ARTS by George! accessible?
A: Yes. Accessible parking, entrances, elevators, and seating are available. The Center for the Arts can also provide accessibility accommodations for the performance. The Jeff Goldblum and the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra concert will be ASL interpreted. Please indicate your accessibility needs when purchasing tickets or contact us in advance so we can assist.
Q: What is the food like? What if I have allergies?
A: The event will feature a delicious buffet with a variety of selections and small plates from which to choose. There will also be wine, beer, and a signature cocktail available. Don’t miss our two dessert menus! One is served in the Harris Theatre lobby during the early part of the event, and the other is passed at the post-show onstage reception.
Please notify us of allergies when you turn in your guests’ names or include the information in the comments on your ticket purchase. Menus with allergy labels are displayed on the buffet and the catering staff are knowledgeable about the food served. The buffet will include options that suit a variety of common diets such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and/or dairy-free.
Photos from past ARTS by George! events
Presenting Sponsor
Executive Producer
Carolyn Peterson and the Peterson Family Foundation
Robert K. Purks
Producer
Rick Davis and Julie Thompson
John and Nina Toups Charitable Fund
Tom and Pam Maskey
Patron
Leroy R. Barnes, Jr.
Gerard and Dianne Blais and Mack and Paulette Miller
Jerry Bridges and Sally Turner
Lee Corey, CIMA, Executive Director Morgan Stanley
Jennifer and Thomas Flammia
Joyce Goche-Grimes
Linda and Harlan Harber
Barbara and Kevin Hutto
Mary Sanders Jones
Don and Sonja Palomaki and Bob and Pat Warakomsky
Thomas Sabal and Daniel Tucciarone
Dr. Victoria N. Salmon and Mr. John J. Salmon
Donn Smith and Jay Speer
Marilyn Smith
Annabelle and David Stone
Dr. Adam Winsler and Kathy Preisinger
Your gift to ARTS by George! is also part of something bigger. Mason Now: Power the Possible is the university's largest, most ambitious campaign to date. Your gift fuels the campaign's priority of making a meaningful difference in our community.
Header image: Jennah Sidiabed, part of the cast of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 from the School of Theater, performs an excerpt from the show during the 20th ARTS by George! event on September 27, 2025 in the deLaski Performing Arts Building on the Fairfax Campus of George Mason University. Photo Credit: Evan Cantwell/George Mason University