"Put on your most banging outfit, and get ready to dance the night away at Basement's 15th Birthday Blowout," the Instagram caption from the Basement Theatre read. 

A boogie was well deserved: a decade and a half is a long time for any venue to operate continually, let alone in the tumultuous arts landscape.

Given the budget cuts, political uncertainty and operating restrictions they've had to contend with over the past few years, Auckland's omnipresent rain pelting down didn't dissuade a healthy crowd of creatives and supporters from gathering inside and outside the inner-city theatre on Saturday night.

Against a backdrop of balloons and a very crafty oversized cake pinata made by Small Rave, partygoers danced to sets by GALOLEAFI, Vercetti and DJ Snakelegs, waiata by Geneva AM, and cheered an especially fun late night appearance from ballroom star Honey Givenchy. 

They were there to celebrate of course, but also to chip in to the venue's advocacy for an equitable, and dynamic artscape in Tāmaki Makaurau. The night also acted as a launchpad for the Artists Make Auckland campaign to uphold the incalculable contribution artists of all disciplines make towards creating "a deep sense of local pride and identity, that generations upon generations have and will continue to benefit from."

The Basement's Programmes Navigator Todd Waters was staffing the merch booth on the night wearing one of the fundraising t-shirts. It had been custom bedazzled with pink diamantes. Tote bags and hoodies were also in hot demand, and stock of each style has been reserved to sell online (keep an eye on their Instagram to nab your own). 

Amongst those braving the weather on the night was Abigail Dell’Avo, who went along to the party to capture the celebrations for us…