Meet the Sponsorship Party decorating crew

From left to right: Wendy Shuler, Janet Mehling, Linda Bielawski, and Jhennifer Sanchez. 

Each February, the Historic Artcraft Theatre is transformed into a themed oasis for Franklin Heritage, Inc.’s biggest shindig of the year: the annual Sponsorship Party! While many attend, few may realize that the party’s planning and organization begins many months in advance. From choosing the theme and curating the menu to creating the season-reveal video, there are many moving pieces required to ensure a successful event.
Part of the magic of the Sponsorship Party is seeing how the decorating committee brings each year’s vision to life. It is a delightful, yet daunting, challenge to transform the auditorium from its everyday state into an immersive world for the night. Looking back at past themes, we’ve traveled through a '60s cocktail lounge, set sail on the Love Boat, cruised down Route 66, and many others.

The papier-mâché cowboy boot from 2025 Route 66 themed Sponsorship Party. 

This year’s theme, “From the Depths of Outer Space…,” is taking the Artcraft to the next level!
The decorating committee has been hard at work dreaming up ways to turn our Art Deco gem into a galactic wonder. This year’s "Mission Control" team--Linda and Martin Bielawski, Nicole Frye, Janet and John Mehling, Jenn Rhorer, Jhennifer Sanchez, and Wendy Shuler—has spent countless hours brainstorming and handcrafting every detail.
“Turning the Artcraft auditorium into the Sponsorship Party theme is a lot of time and work, but also a lot of fun getting creative alongside wonderful people,” says Janet Mehling. “From brainstorming ideas to figuring out how to make them a reality, we find ourselves doing things a bit outside the everyday as we work to bring it all together.”
It takes a unique blend of careful planning, DIY craftiness, and collective creativity to pull off these treasured art pieces. For the Route 66 party, the team spent weeks on a larger-than-life cowboy boot made of paper mache and plaster. The year before, the stage was transformed as it became the deck of a cruise ship, complete with seagulls and crashing waves!
Local artist Greg Potter also lends his talents to the atmosphere, contributing 3-D sculptures that have become a staple of the event. Whether it was his airbrushed hot rods and cacti for the Route 66 road trip theme or the hand-painted mermaids that were bookends for the buffet table during the Love Boat party, Greg’s work adds an artistic flair that makes the evening feel truly special.
The logistical dance required to flip the theatre is nothing short of a theatrical production in itself. Usually, the Artcraft is a place of routine—the smell of real butter, the rhythmic hum of the projectors, and rows of guests enjoying a feature film. But once the final credits roll on the Saturday before the party, the movie palace state is temporarily suspended. 

Greg Potter’s mermaids from The Love Boat themed Sponsorship Party. 

The committee moves in like a whirlwind, with just under a week to make the transformation. They won’t just be hanging a few streamers; large set pieces will be brought in, the 50-foot buffet table will be meticulously placed, and the lighting will be modified to shift the mood from a 1920s theatre to a galactic outpost. A specific kind of creative chaos happens during this week. It is a labor of love that ensures that when you walk through those doors on Saturday night, the transition is so seamless you’ll forget you’re still on Main Street in Franklin.
While the plaster boots and airbrushed sculptures are fun, they serve a deeper purpose than decoration. The environment created by this committee and the whole planning team is the heartbeat of the Artcraft’s fundraising efforts. This party is where our community of supporters gathers to sponsor the films that will fill our calendar for the coming year. When the atmosphere is vibrant and the creativity is flowing, it reminds everyone why the Artcraft is worth preserving.
This year, the committee is pushing the boundaries of the Artcraft’s atmosphere yet again. They’ve been dreaming up out-of-this-world ideas to transport you into the cosmos. You won’t want to miss the Sponsorship Party this year!
Click here for more information and tickets for the party.