Yes, the economy is still in a shambles. First to feel the sting of this tightened economy, nonprofit organizations are being left to fend for themselves. Some have closed their doors, some are still floundering, while others have had to get inventive. Founder and director of The HARC Foundation, Susan M. Marchese, has taken some initiative and is not waiting around for an extended hand.
Created in 1990, The HARC Foundation (Help Artists & Rehabilitate Children) was created with two purposes. The first is to discover, support, promote, and present emerging creative artists from all art disciplines. Secondly, it promotes the use of the creative arts as a therapeutic science in the rehabilitation of abused and neglected children.
“As a creative artist my entire life, I have always been aware of the lack of support for individual emerging creative artists in the United States,” Marchese said. “Everyone expects a creative artist to have a day job and create at night. They don’t realize that creativity, the brain, and physical energy are drained, basically non-existent, after laboring at another job for 8 to 10 hours.”
Each year, The HARC Foundation puts on exclusive presentation events featuring the artists that are chosen as the winners of The HARC Awards. Several lucky creative artists every year receive $2,500 to help further their careers, allowing them to continue on their creative path and follow their passion. However, funding has grown slimmer.
Marchese’s latest endeavor is “Command Performance,” which was created to help HARC raise much needed funding.
Since the economy has affected corporate sponsorship in recent years, Marchese decided to take a more aggressive approach to fundraising.
“This is the first time we’ve ever held a benefit event like ‘Command Performance,’ when well-known creative and performing artists have offered their talents to help HARC raise the funding needed to present their annual awards.”
On Saturday afternoon, Feb. 4 at 2 p.m., “Command Performance” will be held at Gebert Gallery, 1345 Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice (http://gebertgallery.com/). This event will offer a salon style performance featuring international artists including pianist Markus Pawlik; Patricio da Silva, composer and pianist with Yevgeniy Milyavskiy, pianist; Rebecka Larsdotter, composer and singer with band Mahesh Balasooryia (Zane Musa on drumgs, Dale Black on bass, Zack Harmon on drums); as well as American poet/spoken word artist, Stacy Gnall. Wine and antipasti from Mosto Enoteca, authentic Italian food, will be served.
In addition to the concert, a silent art auction will be held featuring the works of local creative artists Derrik Van Nimwegen, A.M. Rousseau, Darla Warner, Elana Kundell, Les Mayers, Carol Henry, Candace Biggerstaff, Leo Garcia, and Domenico Foschi.
The Saturday afternoon event, “Command Performance”, presented by The HARC Foundation will benefit The HARC Awards and The HARC Creative Arts Therapy (CAT) Awards. The HARC Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the value of creative arts in America as well as rehabilitating abused and neglected children through the creative arts.
Tickets are $50 tax deductible donation per person (as allowed by law) and can be purchased on HARC’s website via credit card at http://www.harcfoundation.org/donations.html or by calling 310.823.2310 for reservations and by sending checks to The HARC Foundation at P.O. Box 11596, Marina del Rey, CA 90295.
