The First Friday Art Walk in NOTO has become a regular event in the Topeka community and more specifically in the now well-known NOTO section of North Topeka.

“An Art Walk has been going on in the Topeka area with several area businesses for 25 years,” said Sarah Fizell, executive director of ARTSConnect.

Fizell continued to say that the event is now managed by ARTSConnect and has been in its current format for 6 years.

The upcoming First Friday Art Walk, slated for Oct. 4, promises to be just as engaging as the previous events but will have an added attraction; NOTO has invited KTWU to have an art auction there.

As stated on their website, the mission of the station is “KTWU provides programs and services that enrich the lives of those we reach.”

With that in mind, this auction has been planned not only to financially support the station but also to enrich the lives of the community.

“KTWU is the largest and oldest station in the state of Kansas,” said Laurie Buhler-auction director for KTWU. “The arts auction came about because we felt that the artists don’t get enough exposure and that their products [and] creativity isn’t valued if you can’t see it, or experience it.”

KTWU will also have a “Lights, Camera, Auction,” held Nov. 8 to Nov. 10. This is the main fundraising auction for KTWU.

“We pulled some of the art and arts items from the November auction and created this arts auction, hoping to get more exposure for the artists and more money out of the pieces,” said Buhler.

Buhler continued on to say that people should come out to the Arts Auction because most of the artists will be present and you can meet the artists, see their works and that they have invested in KTWU and what they stand for in the community.

Additionally, this event provides a way for participants to reinvest in local businesses because supplies has been purchased from local food and beverage vendors. Additionally, at the Arts Auction there will be a live auctioneer conducting the auction itself.

For this Arts Auction, there are about 40 to 50 items of object d’art for sale.

For example, there are oil paintings, photographs of the Flint Hills and glass pieces. In addition to these, there are several vouchers or gift certificates for area businesses or services. There is also an antique poster from the original PBS series “Sherlock Holmes,” a package as donated by a founding member of the band Kansas; as well as some Machudo Cajons box drums, made for this event and much more.

The viewing of the items for sale will be from 5 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. and the auction will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets for the auction cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The auction will be held in the NOTO community center located at 925 N. Kansas Ave. Tickets can be bought online at the web address listed below. The arts auction will support local artists and businesses. The proceeds from the auction will benefit the educational programming that KTWU provides for the community on both television and online at KTWU.org.