While Las Vegas continues to mourn the closing of the Valley’s only art museum more than two years ago, the Barrick Museum forges ahead with an art focus, asserting with each exhibit and awareness campaign that it will not falter.

Recent budget cuts left the museum on UNLV’s campus without state funding; as of next July it will fly solo. That’s why its We Will Survive benefit exhibit and auction opening this week might be one of its most important shows.

Around 40 Las Vegas artists donated works to the museum to be auctioned off in November. Sales aren’t likely to add up to the $250,000 needed for the more-than-40-year-old Barrick to sustain as it is now, but museum representatives hope it will generate awareness of the space and its new mission. Get a sneak peek of the show Friday, September 23 from 7 to 9 p.m.