Cirque du Surreal

Biggs Museum Annual Fundraiser

October 17 | 6:00–11:00 PM
📍Biggs Museum of American Art
Museum and Big Top

Step into a living work of art—an immersive evening of spectacle, imagination, and celebration.

A Night of Surreal Wonder

Enter a world where reality bends and creativity takes center stage. Cirque du Surreal invites you into a phantasmagoric experience inspired by the dreamlike, theatrical works of Peter Paone.

Throughout the evening, guests will encounter a sequence of vivid, shifting moments—part performance, part celebration, part illusion.

Your presence supports The Biggs and helps ensure that transformative, community-centered arts experiences continue into the year ahead.

What to Expect

An Entertaining and Celebratory Evening for the Arts

Cirque-style performances paired with live music.
A curated silent auction featuring one-of-a-kind works of art.
A paddle raise to support the Museum’s mission of enriching lives through American Art and education.
Craft cocktails and private access to the Museum’s galleries, highlighting “Imagining the Spectacular: The Art of Peter Paone.”
Elegant culinary experience served under the surreal Big-Top.

Step into a world of imagination. This is your moment to wear what you’ve always wished you had somewhere to go. Think bold, whimsical, and artfully unexpected—circus-inspired looks with a sophisticated twist. Color, texture, and creativity are encouraged.

The main event will take place on the grass, so plan your look accordingly—creative yet practical footwear is key. (Think statement shoes, boots, or wedges; skip thin heels.)

Tickets & Pricing

Register for the Best Show in Town

Ticket Price $300

Click here to be redirected to ticketing page.

THE INSPIRATION:

BEFORE WORDS: The Art of Peter Paone

A celebrated painter and printmaker, Peter Paone established and chaired the printmaking department at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), where he taught for more than 30 years. His work has been featured in major exhibitions at the Brandywine Museum of Art, the Michener Art Museum, and Woodmere Art Museum. BEFORE WORDS: The Art of Peter Paone is the first exhibition devoted exclusively to his extraordinary watercolor paintings, presenting approximately 75 works created over more than five decades.

Though Paone began developing these remarkable portfolios in the 1970s, many of the watercolors have never been publicly exhibited. Filled with surreal imagery, fantastical characters, art historical references, and a touch of macabre humor, they invite viewers into an imaginative world unlike any other. As Paone described them, they are “waiting for a story to be written about them, the reverse of illustration.”

Developed in close collaboration with the artist before his passing in May 2026, the exhibition stands as the final major project to which he personally contributed and celebrates a lifetime of extraordinary creativity. Opening shortly after what would have been his 90th birthday, the exhibition serves as both a retrospective of his watercolor practice and a lasting tribute to his artistic legacy.

It is this spirit of imagination, transformation, and theatrical storytelling that inspires Cirque du Surreal—an evening designed to bring Paone’s dreamlike world to life through immersive performances, unexpected encounters, and unforgettable experiences that blur the boundary between reality and imagination.

SUPPORT THE BIGGS

Sponsorship

Your participation directly supports The Biggs Museum of American Art and our ability to provide free memberships, educational programming, and meaningful community experiences. These interactions through the cultural economy create a ripple effect that uplifts local community and businesses.

Become a sponsor and align your brand with one of the region’s most imaginative cultural events.

Sponsorship Levels

Supporter – $1,000

Two (2) admission tickets
Name recognition in event program
Recognition in post-event print ad (Daily State News)

Sponsor – $2,500

Four (4) admission tickets
Name recognition and small logo placement in event program
Recognition in post-event print ad (Daily State News)

Patron – $5,000

Eight (8) admission tickets
Logo recognition
Half-page ad in event program
Recognition in post-event print ad (Daily State News)

Benefactor – $10,000

Eight (8) premium tickets (includes curated gift and preferred seating for optimal viewing of entertainment)
Prominent logo placement
Full-page ad in event program
Verbal recognition during the event
Named sponsorship of a key event element (Cocktail Hour, Dinner, or Entertainment), with logo placement aligned to selected experience
Recognition in post-event print ad (Daily State News)

Impact

What It Means for You

Align your brand with one of the region’s most imaginative cultural experiences while connecting with an engaged and growing audience. Cirque du Surreal offers meaningful visibility, uniqSue hospitality, and the opportunity to be part of an unforgettable evening that reflects creativity, innovation, and community leadership.

As a sponsor, you’re not just supporting an event—you’re positioning your organization at the center of a vibrant cultural moment.

What It Means for Us

Your support makes it possible for The Biggs to remain open, accessible, and deeply connected to our community. Proceeds from this event help fund a wide range of free and low-cost programs for families, students, and lifelong learners, while sustaining the exhibitions and experiences that bring people together.

With your partnership, we can continue to grow our impact—expanding access, deepening engagement, and ensuring that the arts remain a vital and welcoming space for all.