This year’s Arts Gala on Poverty Bay is a collaboration of community and Highline College.

Presented by the Des Moines Legacy Foundation, the fifth annual event will showcase a variety of art pieces created by local artists Saturday, Sept. 28.

The foundation operates from the standpoint that arts are the driver of economic development, said Gene Achziger, president of the Des Moines Legacy Foundation. The foundation supports disadvantaged students and seniors while promoting the arts.

The eclectic arts gala is a collaborative effort to promote the arts, bring people to town, and support budding artists, he said. The evening includes arts for purchase, an art auction, appetizers, desserts, and wine.

For the first time, the arts gala will be held at Highline College. Funds raised at the event will go toward scholarships for Highline’s latest four-year degree offering, bachelor of applied science in integrated design.

This science degree focuses on various design fields from interior to graphic through technology, visual design, and creative solution building. In its first week of fruition, the program has approximately 30 students enrolled, Achziger said.

Achziger noted that the scholarships will help more disadvantaged students, including students of color, enroll in the program.

“This is an opportunity and a chance to try and have the number of people coming out of the Highline program reflect the diversity of King County as a whole,” he said.

On display for auction at this year’s event includes everything from live art demonstrations, paintings and pottery to glass art, photography, jewelry and more.

“We think it’s a great opportunity to support the local arts and the college,” Achziger said.

The business casual arts gala will be held from 6-9:30 p.m. in the Highline College Student Union building Sept. 28.

Tickets are available at the door and online at brownpapertickets.com.