A tried-and-true classic fundraiser, the Art Gallery of Burlington’s Soup Bowl event has been a staple in Burlington culture since its inception in 1998. This year, as restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic remain in place, Soup Bowl 2021 looked slightly different.
In times before COVID-19, the Soup Bowl event used to be held in person at the gallery. Vendors would set up tables and participants would line up to receive their free cup of soup. This format allowed the Art Gallery of Burlington (ABG) to add a social aspect to their fundraiser, allowing participants to converse during their meal.
Instead of cancelling the event altogether, the Art Gallery of Burlington chose to embrace social distancing requirements. This year, soup bowls were available for purchase online and were picked up in person at the gallery. Participants received a voucher to redeem their free bowl of soup from a restaurant of their choosing. Restaurants involved include local classics such as Familia Fine Foods, the Dickens Pub, and Spencer’s at the Waterfront.
Each one-of-a-kind ceramic soup bowl was hand-crafted by members of the Burlington Potters’ Guild, Burlington Fine Arts Association, and friends of the gallery. Bowls were then glazed, painted, and fired in the clay studio at the Art Gallery of Burlington. Roughly 1000 bowls were created for the Soup Bowl event.
Each $55 Soup Bowl ticket included a “swag bag” containing hand-crafted, artisan biscotti from local bakery Mrs. B’s Gifthouse, as well as a discount coupon for purchases made in the AGB gift shop. On top of this, all proceeds from the Soup Bowl fundraiser went towards supporting the Art Gallery of Burlington’s educational programs, including youth outreach and school art classes.
Staff and volunteers at the Art Gallery of Burlington remain hopeful that next year’s Soup Bowl event will be held in person, re-introducing the communal aspect of sharing a meal that we have all craved during the past year and a half.
The Soup Bowl event ran from October 13 to November 27, and vouchers can be redeemed until Nov. 30. For more information regarding the Soup Bowl event, visit https://agb.life/soup-bowl-to-go.
The Art Gallery of Burlington is open 12 p.m.––5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday; Saturday 10 a.m.5 p.m., and is closed Sunday and Monday.
