For General Information Phone: 313.943.5478 communityfund@ci.dearborn.mi.us Ford Community & Performing Arts Center 15801 Michigan Avenue Dearborn, MI 48126-2904

Midwest Sculpture Initiative Brochure and Visual Arts & Writing Contest Guidelines

Youth in Arts Festival spotlights talents of Dearborn students this Wednesday THIS WEDNESDAY - Ford Community & Performing Arts Center The public is welcome to enjoy visual art, vocal performances and instrumental music on Wednesday, April 25, from 4 to 8:30 p.m., at the 2012 Youth in Arts Festival and opening of the 2012 Dearborn Public Schools City Wide Art Show. Hundreds of talented Dearborn students from kindergarten through high school (K-12) will perform, display and demonstrate their arts during exhibits and a collage concert at the event. This free program is a cooperative project by the Dearborn Community Fund (DCF) and the Dearborn Public Schools, at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave., in Dearborn. Schedule 4-5:30 p.m. - Visual Arts Opening Reception for Dearborn Public Schools City Wide Art Show featuring artwork from students in kindergarten through high school. (Show runs April 25-May 28 in the Padzieski Art Gallery) 4:30-5:30 p.m. & 6:30-7:30 p.m. -Artist Demonstrations 5:30 p.m. - Senior Talks High school seniors share insights about their artwork. 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Musical Interlude The Dearborn Youth Symphony ensembles will perform in the theater lobby. 7:30-8:30 p.m. - Collage Performance Instrumental, choral and theater selections by Elementary through High School students and special guests Kira Frabotta, Paul Bruce and “Blue Fusion” from Henry Ford Community College. About the Festival The Youth in Arts Festival is a cooperative project by the Dearborn Community Fund and the Dearborn Public Schools, with support from the Dearborn Community Arts Council and the Dearborn Public Schools Education Foundation. “We called this the Youth in Arts Festival—not just a concert—because of the variety and high spirited energy of the program,” explains EmmaJean Woodyard, executive director of the Dearborn Community Fund. “This event is really exciting for everyone involved because it’s the one time during the year that all of the schools in Dearborn pool all of their arts initiatives together at one time, in one place, to demonstrate how many of our young people are involved in the arts.” Honorary chairs for the evening are Mayor John B. O’Reilly, Jr.; DCF Chair Karen Nigosian, and Dearborn Public Schools Superintendent Brian Whiston. Special guest performers include Dearborn public schools graduates who have pursued careers in the arts. Actor, composer, performer and Dearborn Public Schools teacher Paul Bruce will open the show with a musical number. Also performing will be Dearborn High School and Wayne State University graduate Kira Frabotta, a vocal artist who sings professionally across the region, most recently in a Dearborn Symphony Pops Concert. Visual Arts The Youth in Arts Festival features art demonstrations and the artwork of kindergarten through 12th grade students participating in the all-school City Wide Art Show exhibit in the Padzieski Art Gallery. The Art Show runs from April 25 through May 28, 2012. Choral Choral performances will highlight the voices of students in the Elementary Honors Choir directed by Jim Walters, the Secondary Honors Choir directed by Jennifer Pegouske, the Dearborn High School Choir directed by Carmelle Atkins, and the Henry Ford Community College Blue Fusion Vocal Jazz Ensemble under the direction of G. Kevin Dewey. Dramatic Arts Dearborn High School Theater students will add a dramatic element to the program under the direction of Greg Viscomi. Instrumental Arts Representing the power and passion of instrumental arts, the collage concert includes performances of the Fordson Jazz Band conducted by Scott Guthre, the Edsel Ford High School Chamber Group conducted by Mike Kalasz, and the Maples Music Ensemble conducted by Catherine Odam-Prowse. Dearborn Youth Symphony ensemble directed by Donna Olkowski will perform in the theater lobby. The Youth in Arts Festival is a cooperative project by the Dearborn Community Fund (DCF) and the Dearborn Public Schools, with support from the Dearborn Community Arts Council and the Dearborn Public Schools Education Foundation. The DCF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission to support cultural and recreational programs in Dearborn. For more information about the Youth in Arts Festival, other projects sponsored by the DCF, or how to contribute to the Fund, call 313-943-5478.

Opportunities to Support the Dearborn Community at Homecoming 2012 The Dearborn Community Fund is pleased to partner with the City of Dearborn in organizing the annual Homecoming Festival. A favorite event among Dearborn residents and those who visit our area, each August this festival attracts more than 100,000 people over three days. What you may not realize is that the Festival is one of the most important annual fundraisers for dozens of non-profit groups that serve the Dearborn community. Between 35 and 40 organizations come together, partnering with the nonprofit Dearborn Community Fund (DCF) and the City of Dearborn, to offer the wonderful entertainment, food and fun activities that make the Festival possible. In addition to volunteering their time and talents at Homecoming, many of these groups raise funds that they use to do their good work and contribute to the community in many ways throughout the rest of the year. Plans for the 2012 Homecoming 2012 are already under way. We are happy to offer a variety of opportunities for businesses and individuals to support the Dearborn community through high-value sponsorships of the 2012 Homecoming Festival. See the attached brochure for levels of sponsorship and sponsor benefits. Many of the sponsorships are booked early, so please respond by the deadlines in order to reserve the best event for your marketing goals. If you would like to receive a sponsorship opportunity brochure or talk about customizing a sponsorship opportunity to meet your needs, please contact EmmaJean Woodyard, Executive Director of the Dearborn Community Fund, at 313-943-5478. The 2012 festival is our 33rd annual celebration. We are all looking forward to another outstanding event for our community – and continued success for our sponsors!

Awards in Visual Arts and Writing Announced at Midwest Sculpture Initiative (MSI) Multi-Arts Program Multi-Arts Night sponsored by the Dearborn Community Fund (DCF) on March 28 was an evening of music, art and creative writing. The annual program is a component of the Arts in Public Places – Midwest Sculpture Initiative. At the event, awards were presented to local artists who entered art and writing in the 2012 MSI Visual and Writing Contest. Visual arts award recipients were: Pamela Sayre, first place; Sawsan Chehab, second place and Janet Grant, third place. All three award winning artists are active members in the Artist Society of Dearborn. Writing award recipients were: Diane Kaye, first place for “The Lollipop Tree” based on a sculpture of the same title located at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center; Michelle Saad, second place for “Glass Representatives” inspired by the sculpture titled “Glass Totems” located at Georgetown Commons in East Dearborn. Also on display at Multi-Arts Night were “found object” sculptures and writing pieces that fifth grade students from the Dearborn Public Schools created during a series of workshops with elementary students from the Dearborn Public Schools. Guests at Multi-Arts Night voted for their favorite fifth-grade student sculpture and writing piece in the program. Winners each received a gift certificate to purchase art supplies for the program at their school. Muhamad Hammond from Henry Ford Elementary won first place for his sculpture and Zoe Rogula from DuVall Elementary won first place for her written work. The Dearborn Community Fund with support from the East and West Dearborn Downtown Development Authorities sponsors the Art in Public Places – Midwest Sculpture Initiative. Twelve new sculptures will be displayed beginning in May in various Dearborn locations. To learn more about the sculptures, the sculptors and locations, visit the DCF website at www.dearborncommunityfund.org . The DCF is a non-profit organization that provides and promotes financial and volunteer resources in support of arts, recreational and cultural programs that directly impact the community. For more information, contact the DCF office at 313-943-5478. Photo caption: DuVall Elementary fifth grade art class students at Multi-Arts Night, from left: Emma Allen, Zoe Rogula, Georgia Ziegler, Kristen Gury and Brendan Hay.

 

Investing in Dearborn's Future

If the future of Dearborn is important to you, why not make your voice heard by supporting the Dearborn Community Fund's Put Your Name on Dearborn's Future Capital Campaign?

As the focal point of recreational, cultural and leisure-time activities in the city, the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center is the premier project of the Dearborn Community Fund (DCF). The DCF is a registered non-profit organization established to support investment in the city's future.

The purpose of the DCF is: To provide and promote financial and volunteer resources in support of recreational and cultural enrichment projects for citizens of the City of Dearborn, Michigan.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to show your support for the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center by purchasing a bench, theatre seat, tree or brick. Whether as a gift, a memorial or a commemoration of an important event, your gift will provide long-term recognition of your commitment to Dearborn.

Leaving your mark is simple and affordable:

Benches:
$1,250

Theatre Seats:
$1,000 Gold Circle
$500 Main Level
$250 Balcony

Trees:
$750 Large Tree
$300 Small Tree

Engraved Bricks:
$1,000 8x8 Corporate Logo Brick
$500 8x8 Brick
$100 8x8 Replica Brick (with the purchase of a regular brick)
$90 4x8 Brick
$50 4x8 Replica Brick (with the purchase of a regular brick)

Many other exciting donation options are also available. Your charitable donation is tax deductible to the maximum extend allowed by law. For an order form click here.

For further information, or to make a donation, call 313.943.5478.

Thank you for your support.