About ArtExplosion

About ArtExplosion ‘09 February 7-21, 2009 Presented by ArtsUnited, Inc., ArtExplosion is one of the largest GLBT Arts Festival in the Country, with two weeks of exhibits and performances by local, national, and international GLBT talent. With the help of sponsors like Tylenol PM, the BankAtlantic Foundation, The Atlantic Resort & Spa, AutoNation, Comcast and Here!TV, ArtExplosion 2008 presented over 29 programs of art, music, film, literature, comedy and cabaret, with a combined attendance of more than 4000 people. Performers in past festivals include Tim Miller, Kinsey Sicks, Greg Wallach, The Gay Mafia, Cashetta, and Marga Gomez. ArtExplosion ‘09 will take place February 7-12, 2009 and will feature the one of the largest GLBT juried art show in the US and a Finale performance by Lea DeLaria, Levi Kreis, and Scott Ryan, at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts Amaturo Theatre. This year ArtExplosion will highlight the country of Cuba, with programming by and about Cuban artists, directors, and authors, including an appearance by 2008 Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee Desmond Child. Now in its ninth year, ArtExplosion is receiving praise as a premiere GLBT event. It was selected by the Fort Lauderdale Visitors and Convention Bureau as one of a few GLBT events to promote GLBT tourism to Fort Lauderdale. It was selected by the Express Gay newspaper as Editor's Pick for "Best Gay Community Event" in its 2007 readers poll, and also received the 2008 ArtServe Encore Award for "Best Arts Collaboration" in Broward County, a first for a GLBT event. MISSION ArtsUnited, Inc.'s mission is to use the arts to break down historical barriers preventing lesbians and gays from contributing fully and openly to the cultural, social and economic success of South Florida. We strive to accomplish our mission in many ways including: Organizing art exhibits in public venues; establishing a network of artists to increase their interaction with one another; sponsoring book signings and appearances by authors; conducting educational seminars; producing original plays; maintaining our website; holding artists workshops and presenting our yearly events: United & Proud and Art Explosion. HISTORY ArtsUnited began in 1997 when frustrated play write Eston Dunn staged a reading of his original play, “Lip Sync.” As the play concluded, Eston made his pitch for financial support to get the play produced. The play is very gay-themed and Eston is openly gay. It was his belief his homosexuality was the reason his play was being rejected by potential producers. ArtServe staff member Constance Avery happened to be in the audience, and she followed up with Eston after the show and suggested ArtServe might be able to help. With the help of arts-incubator ArtServe, ArtsUnited, Inc. was created, a Board was formed, and the organization was incorporated in Florida on March 8, 1999. The mission was stated as: ”Use the arts to help fight bias and bigotry toward the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.” The first president, Carey Frazier, guided the volunteer Board through the 501 (c) (3) approval process into early 2000. He resigned shortly after and Chuck Williams was elected President. All along, the group had brought focus groups of artists from various disciplines together to gage interest in possible programs and events. Now that ArtsUnited had its tax exempt status, they started planning ArtExplosion, which was designed to bring all the art disciplines together in one spectacular exhibition. About this time, representatives of the Broward County Library Outreach Services Division sought out the group to offer their assistance in program and event development. A lasting partnership was born; the library provided a venue, and a private benefactor donated $2,000 seed money to make the event a reality. ArtExplosion 2001 was a one night event held on the first floor of the Main Broward County Library in Fort Lauderdale, attended by over 300 people, and featured performances by glbt musicians, singers, as well as readings by authors! Membership grew over the years to include 120 members, primarily artists. ArtExplosion moved over to the JM Family Enterprises Gallery at ArtServe where it has been held almost every year since. ArtExplosion attendance grew to over 500 at the opening night reception and several hundred more visited it during its two week stay at ArtServe Gallery. ArtExplosion became one of the largest glbt art exhibits in the country, and the largest in the Southeast. In response to the overwhelming success of the ArtExplosion Opening Night Reception, the ArtsUnited Board of Directors voted in 2007 to expand the two week art show into a two week arts festival and offer exhibits and performances of all the arts disciplines throughout the festival. They also decided to bring in national caliber talent. They knew that with an all volunteer staff, there was no way they could produce two weeks of events themselves, so they asked other arts organizations the partnered with in the past, to each produce an event for the festival. Stonewall Library & Archives, the Broward County Library, Cinema Paradiso and the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival, as well as local bars, restaurants and galleries, all responded positively to the idea. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts also though it was a good idea and presented the organization an Arts Access Grant to present the ArtExplosion Finale in the Amaturo Theater. Funding for the event was also provided by the Broward County Board of Commissioners as recommended by the Broward Cultural Council, and Tylenol PM, The Atlantic Resort and Spa, and BankAtlantic also helped fund the event. ArtExplosion 2007 became the first two week arts festival. ArtsUnited has become an art-incubator for fledgling gay and lesbian artists, allowing them opportunities to showcase their art in gay-friendly environments, and offering them encouragement and support. The organization also connects them to the larger arts community in South Florida, introducing them to ArtServe, the Broward Art Guild, and other arts organizations. Over the years, ArtsUnited has consistently collaborated with the Broward Art Guild, 9Muses Art Center, Broward County Libraries, Stonewall Library and Archives, Stork’s Bakery and ArtServe to produce quality programming that has been popular with Broward County residents. ArtsUnited has also used the arts to help other nonprofits raise money such as the Holiday Bizarre, Holiday Tops, Ribbons for the Children and Legacy Exhibit. Broward House, PWAC, Children’s Diagnostic and Treatment Center and the Mental Health Association have all benefited from an ArtsUnited program.