The fourth annual gala held in celebration of the arts on Friday sold 200 tickets for the Suffolk Education Foundation to raise money for visual arts and music programs in Suffolk Public Schools, according to foundation president Jennifer Schmack.

Sponsors and raffle tickets for donated teacher artwork supported fundraising efforts, which will fund visual arts at all grade levels and the music programs in middle and high schools.

“We have some really talented students, and the biggest part of the event is to recognize them as a whole,” Schmack said.

This year’s theme was “The Stars Come Out: A Night at the Movies.” Some were dressed like Bride of Frankenstein and other classic film characters. All grade levels in Suffolk Public Schools had student creations displayed, each with references to cinema.

“I have a kindergartner, Corbin Greene, who did a really neat popcorn sculpture,” said Kilby Shores Elementary School art teacher Angie Salerno, who was dressed like the Fairy Godmother. “He based it on ‘Pokémon,’ which he’s really into.”

Senior Tatiyahna Blakely and junior Landon Wigg from Lakeland High School’s drama department were the masters of ceremony for the evening. They pulled laughs from the audiences with their jokes, but they were dead serious when it came to funding art programs in schools.

Blakely said that the arts in Suffolk Public Schools have struggled with limited funds, yet talented students are succeeding in spite of that.

“With the proper funding, we can do amazing things,” she said.

Middle and high school performers delivered terrific renditions of tracks from “Forrest Gump,” “Pitch Perfect,” “Shrek” and other films.

The Nansemond River High School jazz band performed the theme song from “Bewitched” and “Ain’t Misbehavin” by Fats Waller, as heard in the 1943 film “Stormy Weather.”

Band director Edward Woodis said he was impressed by his young pupils, many of whom are in their first year in the band.

“Jazz is a music style that you’ve got to feel, and they’re really feeling it,” Woodis said. “I’m excited about what they’re going to sound like next year.”

NRHS sophomore Simeon Collins, 15, on the alto saxophone said supporting the arts keeps things interesting for both performers and audiences.

“Without it, the world would be so boring,” Collins said.

Supporting students also helps them become teachers themselves for the next generation of young performers.

“That’s what I want to do, at least,” said NRHS sophomore Arionne Cole, 16.