PROGRAMMING

©2007 Josef Zak

International Artists Coalition (On-going)

One of the primary ways GAA is going to initiate global change, is by welcoming artists from around the world to organize exhibits or produce art that in some way educates the public about a social concern of importance to him or her or donates a portion of the revenue from an exhibit, performance etc., to a nonprofit organization that champions a social issue of relevance to the artist.

When the event is finalized, artists will contact GAA and they will become part of our international artists’ coalition, their name and cause listed on our site.

For example, a painter in South Africa might want to donate 10% of her earnings from an art show to a local NGO working to prevent child abuse. Or an African-American videographer in New York might use the first 15 minutes of his show to talk to his audience about racism.

We hope that such acts of beauty and goodness will begin to rise all over the world.

We also hope to, on a monthly basis, showcase the work of an international artist and his or her social concern on our site. The world deserves to see that there is a great art being produced. We feel that currently, great art is usually subverted for more “marketable” and usually mediocre work. We want to change this.

Global Alliance of Artists feels, however, that it is not just artists working alone who will make an impact, but also leveraging creativity in communities— creativity also seen in professionals, corporations and non-profits thus expanding the traditional definition of “artist.” One example is the co-sponsorship of our upcoming event, “Arab Women and Financial Literacy” by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

This panel and workshop is aimed at helping Arab and Arab-American women understand the role of money in their lives as well as the basics of financial literacy. Ghada Shalabi, Assistant VP, Merrill Lynch in the Global Bank Group, Michael F. Burke, Certified Financial Associate, David A. Noyes & Co. and Rema Fakhouri, Associate, Interest Rate and Foreign Exchange Derivatives Sales, JP Morgan Chase Bank N.A. will be among the panelists. Organizers include Dina Rabadi and Hanadi Abukhdeir with GAA.

Sponsored by: The Federal Reserve of Chicago—one of the workshops during the Federal Reserve Money Smart Week 2007.
http://www.moneysmartweek.org/chicago
Date and Time: May 5, 2007, 4-6 pm
Location: Al Aqsa School, 7361 W. 92nd St., Bridgeview, IL 60455

Currently planning the first-ever national young American summit to address the most pressing issues facing our country.

Currently designing a comprehensive civic education site to help young Americans understand how their government works and how politics is relevant to their lives.

Board member and painter, Andrea Harris, is currently organizing an art exhibit in part to educate the public about environmental concerns.