SAN ANTONIO, TX.- Artpace San Antonio is excited to announce Fairfax Dorn and Virginia Lebermann, cofounders of Ballroom Marfa, as the honorees for its annual fundraising gala, The Happening, at Artpace on April 9, 2016.

Founded in 1995 by Linda Pace, Artpace will officially come of age, turning 21 in 2016. To celebrate adulthood in spectacular fashion, The Happening gala will be themed as a 21 Club Speakeasy. In addition to bringing together old and new friends to celebrate its birthday, Artpace will honor collectors and artists who have contributed to the growth of contemporary art in Texas over the past two decades. As the organization’s biggest fundraiser, The Happening makes it possible for Artpace to support the most innovative artists, provide unique and free exhibitions, and serve more than 14,000 students through educational outreach.

"Co-chair Chris Hill and I are honored to help make Artpace's 21st birthday a unique, exciting, and memorable celebration to raise much-needed support for the innovative artists Artpace brings to the community," Anna Wulfe, co-chair of The Happening said. "We are thrilled to honor Fairfax and Virginia, who share Artpace's vision to nurture the creativity of working artists in Texas and around the world."

Fairfax Dorn and Virginia Lebermann cofounded Ballroom Marfa and, in 2003, converted the 1920s-era dancehall into a dynamic, contemporary cultural arts space where varied perspectives and issues are explored through visual arts, film, music, and performance. The nonprofit organization is an advocate for the freedom of artistic expression and serves international, national, regional, and local arts communities by supporting the work of both emerging and recognized artists. Ballroom Marfa is particularly interested in helping artists and curators achieve projects that have significant cultural impact but would be impossible to realize in a traditional gallery or museum setting.

Dorn, cofounder and Artistic Director of Ballroom Marfa, was born in San Antonio and concentrated on painting and art history at The University of Texas at Austin. She is also the co-founder of the Marfa Dialogues, an inclusive public forum that uses art to address the pressing issues of our time. In addition to her directorship of Ballroom Marfa, Fairfax served as Guest Curator and Interim Program Director for the Linda Pace Foundation. Fairfax is currently a board member for Judd Foundation, New York, NY and Marfa, TX; Triple Canopy, Brooklyn, NY; Whitney Museum of American Art, NY; and the Centre Pompidou Foundation, Los Angeles, CA.

Lebermann, cofounder and President of the board of Ballroom Marfa, received the inaugural ArtTable’s 25th Future Women Leadership Award in April 2005, along with Dorn, in recognition of her leadership in the contemporary arts. In addition to her role with Ballroom Marfa, Lebermann is a principal of T.C. Oil Co. and O’Connor Investments and oversees Wexford Cattle Company and Wexford Publishing in Victoria, Texas. Additionally, Virginia is the managing partner of the Marfa-based Thunderbird Hotel. Her past and present board or council positions include the Chinati Foundation, Marfa, TX; Dia Art Foundation, New York, NY; Harry Ransom Center, Austin, TX; National Public Radio Foundation, Washington, D.C.; Texas Nature Conservancy, Austin, TX; River Pierce Foundation, San Ygnacio, Texas; University of Texas Press, Austin, TX; University of Texas McDonald Observatory, Fort Davis, Texas; and the Charles Moore Foundation, Austin, TX.