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Arts for Art N e w s l e t t e r
Thank You from Patricia Nicholson Parker and Miriam Parker
April 2009
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December 15th Gala
What has Arts For Art been up to?
New RUCMA venue!
Vision Festival 14
January 19th Inaugural Ball

December 15th Gala Fundraiser

A belated but heartfelt 'thanks' to all of you who contributed to Arts for Art's December 15th Gala! With your help, and in spite of these exceptionally difficult times, it was indeed a great success! We were able to raise over $70, 000 dollars that will be fully matched by the Mary Flagler Cary Foundation. It will allow Arts for Art to strengthen its infrastructure and develop the very first steps towards building an Innovative Arts Center. At the same time, AFA continues its many activities including: the music series, the Vision Festival and the ongoing mentoring programs, as it continues to build ties to the community.
We are currently pursuing other grants, including those created under the Recovery Act, to enhance our resources and reinforce our staff. Fay Victor, Jeremy Young and Bradley Farberman, have recently added their energy and talent to our team.

While developing our business plan, we continue to explore several options, for the immediate future and for the long term, in our search for a suitable building for the Innovative Arts Center. Our thanks go to all of you who took the time to share your insights in the matter. With this shared vision, we are actively scouting Downtown Manhattan for adequate sites. We have initiated conversations with potential partners, public and private, and are looking at creative ways to accomplish our goals in a timely and judicious manner.

Until this effort culminates in the creation of the Center, we are working to secure a temporary venue to anchor our programming year-around. This identifiable showcase will give the community, not necessarily familiar with the Vision Festival or our local outreach programs, an opportunity to appreciate the breath of the multi-discipline and innovative experience Arts for Art offers. It will also start to fulfill the urgent need for accessible rehearsal spaces and it will foster the exchanges and participation that are at the core of the Innovative Arts Center project.

To view photos of the December 15th Gala Event, click here.

What AFA has been up to:

On Monday. January 19th, Martin Luther King Day; Arts for Art participated in a wonderful celebration on the eve of a new era of Hope with President Obama! We reached out to the arts community and invited Warren Smith and Joe McPhee to do a conduction. There were about 50 musicians and dancers who came to participate on this momentous occasion.*

It helped us to remember that there is such strength in what we do, and when we do come together - we can do more.

*It was a great opportunity to come together with other Arts organizations - Together We Are Stronger

So Thank you Crystal Field and Paul Bartlett from Theater for the New City, Jim Glaser and Irene Maletesta from Artist Action league, and Luna Avila from The Girls Club. Also particular thanks to Paul Nagle for the work that he did in making this happen and the work that he is spearheading to make a National Platform for the Arts!

I was also moved by how many artists have made contributions to AFA towards an Innovative Arts Center. I can't thank you enough. Together we will do this. After all if Obama can - We Can!

The Collaboration Festival took place from February 18th thru 21st at the Living Theater - It was a great success! We presented DASSdance Daniel Wilkins; William Parker; Jason Jordan & So Young An; Cooper Moore; Miriam Parker; Jason Kao Hwang; Todd Nicholson; Tony Malaby; Sonia Portugal; Julian Barnett; Akim Funk Buddha; Saco Yasuma and others.

We held a RUCMA Town Hall Meeting Tuesday March 24th at Clemente Soto Velez. Many of those present want to get politically active. There are ideas to have a film/music night - and an emphasis on keeping things moving in a multi-arts direction - this was coming largely from musicians present. What everyone wants is increased momentum and successes. What everyone wants is a space for our activities.

We are planning on having two meetings per month, so that we can clarify our ideas and move them forward.

To view photos from these events, click here.

A great new venue for the RUCMA series:

Each Monday night, at The Local 269 on Houston and Suffolk - Innovative music

Everything that we do is focused on success - because what we do is important. Thus, I have been hard at work with Bradley Farberman, curating each week to ensure the best programming possible. The RUCMA series is now, stronger than ever. The Local 269, with its welcoming atmosphere has made a wonderful venue for this important, ever evolving music.

Please check www.myspace.com/rucmanyc or www.rucma.org to see the latest schedule for upcoming events!

Coming Up!

We are looking forward to the Vision Festival XIV. This world class festival will take place from June 9th to 14th at the Abrons Art Center at Henry Street Settlement. For the final night, on June 15th, there will be a special collaboration with the Angel Orensanz Foundation. In all the festival will present more than 50 events, including music and dance performances, poetry readings, film screenings, visual art projections and a site-specific installation by Jorgo Schäfer. It will honor the lifetime achievement of Marshall Allen, leader of the Sun Ra Arkestra, on June 10th.

For the full schedule of events, click here.

Thanks to the participants of the January 19th event!

Arts for Art at the Artists Inaugural Ball
January 19, 2009
Theater for the New City
A Musical Conduction by Joe McPhee and Warren Smith
Dance Conduction by Patricia Nicholson

Particpants:

Rob Brown, Patrick Brennan, Avram Fefer, Henry Warner, Saco Yasuma, Sabir Mateen, Diana Wayburn, Adrian Cunningham, Darryl Foster, Seth Meicht, Ras Moshe, Dave Sewelson, Stephan Zeniuk, Mossa Bildner, Jean Carla Rodea, Fay Victor, Lewis Barnes, Jesse Selengut, Takuya Nakamura, Nabate Isles, Zak Sherzad, Steve Swell, Rosi Hertlein, Jason Kao Hwang, Cristian Amigo, Bradley Farberman, Clifton Hyde, Juan Quinonez, Daniel Levin, Michael Bisio, Hilliard Greene, Clif Jackson, Miriam Parker, Jason Jordan, Sean Scantilberry, Mariko Kumanomido, Nora Petroliunas , Emily Quant, Andrew Drury, Gunter Gruner, Gerald Cleaver, Eve Packer, Steve Dalachinsky & Amir Bey.

Your continuing support for Innovative music and art creates success.

Thank you for your art and support!

Patricia

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