The Walton Arts Center will be packed with school children several times over in the coming year, thanks to masked merrymakers at the 13th annual Masquerade Ball on Feb. 10 at the center in Fayetteville. The fundraiser is hosted by the Walton Arts Center Corporate Leadership Council, whose mission is to "bring joy and to inspire through education by exposing people to the arts who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience these things -- especially the children in our communities," Tom Ward, honorary chair of the Masquerade Ball, told those gathered. The fundraiser helps the group provide access to live performing arts at no charge for some 20,000 children and educators annually.