Why This Long-Running Gala Shook Up Its Format This Year

LOS ANGELES—The California Science Center's 23rd annual Discovery Ball took place on May 7, drawing 600 guests for a black-tie affair that highlighted the new exhibition “Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia.” The exhibition transports viewers back 900 years through more than 120 ancient artifacts, half of which are on tour for the first time—and all of which offered rich inspiration for a vibrant, lively fundraising event that ultimately raised $1.6 million for the California Science Center Foundation’s education exhibits, programs, and science camp scholarships. 

But this year, organizers had more to celebrate than just the exhibition: A few weeks after the gala, the museum broke ground on the 200,000-square-foot Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, the new permanent home of the space shuttle Endeavour. Since 2012, the shuttle—one of only three remaining flown space shuttle orbiters—has been on display in the museum’s pavilion space, which typically houses the Discovery’s Ball’s sit-down dinner.

This year, the cocktail reception was moved into that space, to use the time to celebrate the shuttle and its temporary and future homes. At the end of the cocktail reception, more than 700 colorful silk scarves made in Cambodia were gifted to guests.Photo: Nadine Froger Photography

Showcasing both the historic Angkor theme and the futuristic new Air and Space Center was a balancing act—and a chance to get creative, explained Christina Sion, the museum’s vice president of food and event services.

“To segue the themes, we offered what we dubbed ‘Surprise Cocktail Party, Part II,'" she said. “After guests left the initial (promoted) cocktail party under the space shuttle Endeavour—but before arriving to the adjacent dinner area—they encountered a second round of tray-passed hors d’oeuvres and beverages inspired by Cambodian street food, as well as costumed greeters in traditional attire representing the Cambodian Royal Court.”

Other highlights included a shadow puppet show, an Angkor beer station, and market stalls featuring colorful silk scarves, which guests were gifted on their way to dinner. This year, the dinner was moved to the museum's largest space, a three-story atrium.Photo: Nadine Froger Photography

Also new this year, the dinner itself was placed in the museum’s largest space, a soaring three-story atrium. That change was intentionally made to prioritize guests’ comfort levels and improve airflow due to COVID.

To design the space, Sion and her team met with the local Cambodian community, who provided authentic Cambodian products and services, and also donated their time to provide assistance during the event itself. 

“The Cambodian Awareness Organization of UC Irvine and the Preserving Khmer Dance Troupe of Youth of Khmer Kampuchea-Kro provided over 50 authentically costumed greeters and entertainers, as well as 700 colorful silk scarves made in Cambodia for each of our guests,” Sion said. “The lovely and talented Modern Apsara Company opened the dinner program with a gorgeous dance that shared the origin story of Cambodia, and Timothy Sher of HC Foods generously donated Angkor beer for an authentic taste of Cambodia." Modern Apsara Company performed to open the dinner program.Photo: Nadine Froger Photography

Caterer Good Gracious Events created a three-course dinner that featured flavor profiles of traditional Cambodian cuisine.Photo: Nadine Froger PhotographySion added, "We were also honored to showcase two traditional 5-foot-tall intricate shadow puppets, which are sacred objects of storytelling in Cambodian culture, that were loaned to us through a connection made by a professor of anthropology at Cal State Dominquez Hills to Mr. Ho, a remarkable puppet master.”

Caterer Good Gracious Events also leaned heavily into research, curating an authentic three-course dinner that featured flavor profiles of traditional Cambodian cuisine. 

Another highlight during dinner was an immersive video-mapping experience, which aimed to make guests feel like they were dining in the shadow of the temple of Angkor Wat. Sion tapped Bart Kresa for the project, which featured three scenes ranging from a black-and-white water scene—“water is an important part of the Angkor story," noted Sion—to a larger-than-life temple scene that morphed from sunset to evening colors as guests enjoyed dinner. During dinner, video mapping made guests feel like they were dining in the shadow of the temple of Angkor Wat.Photo: Nadine Froger Photography

The team also decided to shelve the popular post-dinner dance party, to keep guests more comfortable and safe during COVID. Instead, attendees could visit the more open-air "Siem Reap Night Market," which featured pedicabs and Cambodian street food, including Insta-worthy donuts from the Cambodian-owned Donut Princess LA and Southeast Asian flavors from the Holy Roly Ice Cream Boutique. Guests also had the opportunity to view the featured exhibition and companion IMAX film, Angkor 3D.An after-party featured Cambodian street food, including donuts from the Cambodian-owned Donut Princess.Photo: Nadine Froger Photography

The night market-inspired after-party also featured pedicab rides.Photo: Nadine Froger PhotographyAs the Discovery Ball is the museum’s signature annual event, it tends to draw a repeat audience of major supporters each year—so keeping it fresh and exciting is key, said Sion.

“I love when a donor asks, ‘What's in store for us this year? How will you top last year?’ Because our guests have come to expect the unexpected! Although certain aspects remain constant, we’ve found success with keeping the Discovery Ball fresh by tapping into our latest exhibition or important milestone (such as construction or a new building or program) to provide a unique theme, which informs our major decisions about decor, entertainment, printed materials, and hospitality.”

Sion continued, “We are grateful for the wide range of fascinating exhibits the Science Center has shared with our guests over the many years, from Star Wars to Body Worlds, to the Dead Sea Scrolls to Cleopatra and King Tut. We do not take for granted how fortunate we have been to have had such a rich supply of diverse topics for inspiration!”

VENDORS:
Audiovisual Production: Seamless Video Solutions
Beer Donation: HC Foods
Cambodian Performers: Cambodian Awareness Organization of UC Irvine; Preserving Khmer Dance Troupe of Youth of Khmer Kampuchea-Krom; Modern Apsara Company; Khmer Bridal 
Car Raffle: Toyota Motor North America, Inc.
Carpet: Primo XL
Catering (Bar): Bar One Complete Beverage Catering
Catering: Good Gracious Events, Inc.
Catering (Crew): Command Performance Catering
Catering (Specialty): Donut Princess; Holy Roly Ice Cream Boutique
Decor: Green Set Inc., Heaven or Las Vegas; Jackson Shrub Supply Inc., JC Backings Corporation
Decor, Fabrication: Edge Design & Decor
Design, Production, Venue: California Science Center
Entertainment: Gary Wicks; Kirsten Edkins; William Brahm
Flowers: CJ Matsumoto & Sons
Graphic Design: i Five Design
Lighting: Images by Lighting
Mobile Fundraising: GiveSmart by Community Brands
Projection Mapping & Design: Bart Kresa Studio
Photo Booth, Photography (Candids): Snap Yourself
Photography (Press): Leroy Hamilton/Photography by Hamilton
Photography (Decor): Nadine Froger Photography
Printing: Automation Printing Company
Rentals (Specialty Linens): Cloth Connection
Rentals: Town and Country Event Rentals
Valet: Everpark Inc.
Wine Donation: Half Moon Bay Winery