BMAC Gala 2026 | Small Wonders, Big Ideas

Well, that was a blast!

This year’s BMAC Gala—Small Wonders, Big Ideas—honoring Melany Kahn, founder of the Brattleboro Festival of Miniatures, was a huge success!

Thanks to the generosity of everyone who attended, made donations, helped out as volunteers, and donated or purchased auction items, we smashed our previous Gala fundraising records, bringing in over $110,000 to support BMAC’s contemporary art exhibitions, transformative education initiatives, and dynamic public events coming up in the year ahead.

With Melany as honoree, the magic of miniatures was in full effect, from tiny cocktails offered upon arrival to exquisitely crafted centerpieces and fashion adornments—boutonnieres, tiaras, necklaces, and more. We were even treated to a pop-up performance by the Tiny Band—full-size musicians playing miniscule instruments.

As BMAC Director Danny Lichtenfeld said, “The appeal of minis in Brattleboro—the Festival of Miniatures, the fabulous new Museum of Things Tiny & Found—is that they perfectly embody a key aspect of this town’s identity and, for that matter, BMAC’s as well: We may be small, but that’s not going to stop us from doing great, ambitious things!”

Relive the Gala or experience it vicariously through these great photos. Feel free to download and share. If you do, please credit the photographers and tag us @brattmuseum.

It takes a village to put on a record-breaking Gala! We are deeply grateful to the following individuals and businesses for their indispensable contributions.

SPONSORS
Brattleboro Savings & Loan
Foard Panel
Mindel & Morse Builders
The Richards Group

GALA COMMITTEE
Christie Herbert
Stacy Hiler
Danny Lichtenfeld
Elizabeth McLoughlin
Petey Mitchell
Elizabeth Ungerleider
Sarah Weiler
Lynne Weinstein
Debby Wiesen-Kelly

GALA STAFF & VOLUNTEERS
Gloria Burns
Madeline Conley
Eric Cutler
Jesse Fox
Sarah Freeman
Rhiannon Greywolf
Adam Grimes
Richard Henke
Stacy Hiler
Erin Jenkins
Kate Milliken
Addie Peterson
Brenda Seitz
Sarah Weiler

VENUE
Retreat Farm

FOOD & DRINK
Nomad Chefs
Vermont Country Deli
Thirsty Goat Bar 

MUSIC
Draa Hobbs Trio
DJ Prismatic 
Tiny Band

LIGHTING
AMT Productions

FLOWERS
Deer Ridge Farm
Windham Flowers 

DECORATIONS & MINIS
Tricia Berberian
Marta Bernbaum
Susan Grabowski
Karina Green
Betsy Hall
Melany Kahn
Tina Kinsbourne
Petey Mitchell
Cynthia Parker-Houghton
Carmella Richardson
Emily Richardson 
Amelia Shillingford
Leland Smith
Desiree Stango 
Wendy Windle
Jonathan Wolfman 

DONORS OF AUCTION ITEMS & OTHER THINGS
Big Picture Farm
Brattleboro Country Club
Bruce Berg
Josh Bernbaum
Bratt Boy Detailing
L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates
The Restaurant at Burdick’s
Bruce Campbell
Bill Conley
Madeline Conley
Robert DuGrenier Glass Studio
Paulina Essunger
Fat Crow
Jared Flynn
Joshua Gold Pottery
Gravitas
The Harlan Family
Michaela Harlow
HatchSpace
Christie Herbert
Hooper Golf Course
Julia Jensen
Chris Lann Designs
Evie Lovett and Jeff Shumlin
Cynthia Ludlam
Tom McLoughlin
Jacob Miller Tennis
Petria Mitchell
Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts
Briony Morrow-Cribbs
Next Stage
Peter Havens
The Porch
Dorothy and Nick Porter
Gayle Robertson and Greg LoPiccolo
The Rohn Family
Sherwin Art Glass
Sidehill Farm
Deborra Stewart-Pettengill
Billy Straus
Tavernier Chocolates
The Thall Family
TJ Buckley’s
Vermont Center for Photography
VT NH Photo Booths
Lynne Weinstein
Debby Wiesen-Kelly
Mara Williams
Cara Wolff Jewelry