Arts For Art, Inc., the renowned New York City-based arts organization responsible for putting on the Vision Festival annually and numerous events, programs and collaborations throughout the year, will be holding a Gala Fundraiser to create the “Innovative Arts Center -- A Place for Innovation in Music, Arts and Thinking."

This Gala will be on Monday, December 15, 2008 at the Angel Orensanz Foundation, 172 Norfolk Street in New York City. Two levels of donation are being suggested for the evening, a higher amount for dinner and an open bar commencing at 7:30 pm, and one for performances exclusively, commencing at 9:30 pm. Festive attire is requested.

Host Committee members for this Fundraising Gala include: Salman Rushdie, Willie Mack, Josh Lucas, Serge Becker, Tenzin Wild, Simon Hammerstein, Ben Pundole, Lupe Ramos, Happy Massee and members of the board of Art For Art. Speakers for the Gala will include: Margaret Richardson from the Obama transition team; Marc Lambert of the Puffin Foundation; and Patricia Nicholson-Parker, co-founder and director of Arts For Art, Inc. Performances will feature: Yerba Buena, William Parker's Inside Songs Of Curtis Mayfield, Citizen Cope, Burnt Sugar, along with many surprise guests.

Patricia Nicholson-Parker says the following about this event:

“Artists of all ages and disciplines have come together with the local community to create this vibrant place for mentoring the next generation of innovators, performing groundbreaking work and advancing the distinctive heritage of downtown arts. Your support will enable the first crucial step: identifying a building, in the vicinity of the Bowery, as a permanent home for the Center.

Arts for Arts has received a $100,000 Capital Reserve Challenge grant from the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust. Help us take best advantage of that generous award; we have until January 1, 2009 to do so. If you can’t join us at the Gala, please consider a donation at visionfestival.org. Now more than ever, nurturing imagination and inspiration in New York City is a vital necessity!"

Tables for the entire evening including dinner, open bar and performances start at $2000. Individual tickets start at $250. Special Individual Friends & Artists Price for the entire evening are $150. The price for the musical performance only will be $50 -- Students & Seniors performance price is $35. Tickets available through BROWN PAPER TICKETS at 1-800-838-3006 or brownpapertickets.com.

Please RSVP Todd at: info@artsforart.org or call (212) 254-5420.