FARMVILLE — About 600 people attended the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts’ (LCVA) annual winter gala on Saturday.

The event raised more than $200,000 for exhibitions, free family workshops, professional development for teachers, LCVA salons, Art After Dark gatherings and other LCVA programming, said Rachel Talent Ivers, the center’s executive director.

“A portion of the auction sales goes back to some of the artists — we believe arts organizations need to support our local artists, who are so wonderful about supporting us,” she said.

This year’s gala theme, “Southern Gothic,” paid homage to the beauty, mystery and charm of the sultry southern garden at night, she said. “Attendees enjoyed an elegant evening of heavy hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, dancing and live music. A silent auction featured fine arts and crafts ranging in value from $50 to $4,000.”