More than 100 members and 800 more who receive mailings attend at least one of the cocktail events yearly. At the end of the fiscal year, Avant Garde uses proceeds from fundraisers to purchase a piece of art by a local emerging artist for the museum's permanent collection. The drawings, paintings and mixed media works in the show are done by participants selected from art classes at Project Return, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for adults with mental illness. Displayed through May 31, the landscapes, portraits and abstracts will be available for purchase, with all funds going directly to Project Return and the artists. Florida Crafstmen Gallery, at 501 Central Ave.
Volunteers regularly work three hours on one day each week and are greeters and tour guides.
Coffee and pastries will be served before Martha Jean Lorenzo, volunteer coordinator, leads the recruits through a discussion of Ybor City's history. The Ybor City State Museum is at 1818 E. Ninth Ave. in Ybor City. Artist Grace Senior will lead a workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Hyde Park Art Center. Old Hyde Park Art Center is at 705 Swann Ave., just off Bayshore Boulevard in south Tampa.