photo by: Bremen Keasey

The headquarters of Lawrence's Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center, 330 Maine St. The center will host a fundraising gala with an arts-based theme that includes performances and an art fixture highlighting survivors' stories.

Lawrence’s Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center hopes a fundraiser that showcases art and performances will also highlight the resiliency of survivors and create an opportunity for community conversation.

The center will host its “Show Up for Survivors: Courage in Couture” gala Sunday at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 New Hampshire St.

Christina Gentry, an associate director at the center, said that art is at the center of Lawrence’s civic culture and that it “made good sense” to use art to tell the stories of survivors.

At Sunday’s event, the Johnson County Community College student theater troupe will perform scenes that touch on what survival looks like, Gentry said. Some of the content of the night will be “heavy,” but she thinks it is important for the audience to understand the feelings that survivors of sexual assault go through.

“It’s a powerful way to make sure this is a community conversation,” Gentry said.

The gala will also feature an exhibition of the “What Were You Wearing?” — an installation featuring clothes that people were wearing when they were sexually assaulted, the intention of which is to combat victim blaming.

photo by: Contributed

A glimpse at a “What Were You Wearing?” installation. An similar installation hosted by KU’s Sexual Assault Prevention & Education Center will be on display for the Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center’s event on Sunday

The installation, which comes from the University of Kansas’ Sexual Assault Prevention & Education Center, includes items such as army fatigues and pajamas, alongside stories from real survivors about what happened to them.

Gentry said in the past four days, the center has responded to five sexual assault nursing calls.

“This is happening here,” Gentry said. “We want to make sure the community is aware of these instances.”

Gentry said the center reduced the cost of event tickets to a $30 minimum donation. The center aims to raise $50,000 through the event.

“We know it is a huge ask, but the support we give the community is very strong,” Gentry said.

The gala will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Lawrence Arts Center. Tickets can be purchased on the Arts Center’s website.