Random Thoughts on Random Acts of Culture

Earlier this week, I posted a video to our Facebook profile page featuring the Opera Company of Philadelphia and over 650 area choristers.   The video featured a “Random Act of Culture” in the downtown Macy’s department store – most people would describe the “Random Act” as a flash mob.  “Random Act of Culture” refers to the program initiated by the Knight Foundation (www.knightarts.org). 

According to their website,”The program [Random Acts of Culture] is in its first year, and emerging areas of interest include digitization of museum collections, development of arts incubator spaces, arts contests in which all community members are eligible for funding and a Random Acts of Culture program that brings fine art to the population and breaks down barriers that prevent consistent engagement in the arts.”  It’s centered in eight different regions: Akron, OH; Charlotte, NC; Detroit, MI; Macon, GA; Miami, FL; Philadelphia, PA; San Jose, CA; and St. Paul, MN.  Lucky for us to be so near one of the cities!  I’m off to the Panthers game this weekend and I’m really hoping a “Random Act” is performed somewhere in the tailgating parking lots!  If you haven’t seen the videos of Opera Carolina performing some “Random Acts,” there’s one embedded below.  I’ve also embedded the Philadelphia event, because you just really can’t get enough.

I just learned of this great new program the Greensboro Grasshoppers have started for their 2011 season.  It’s called “Guarantee to Give – the Hoppers Playoff Pledge” and it’s a great way to support your favorite charity in Greensboro while supporting our MiLB team!  How it works is this: when an individual or business purchase season tickets to the Grasshoppers, they pick a charity/nonprofit of their choice.  At the end of the season, names of season ticket holders and sponsors will be drawn at random.  If the Grasshoppers make it to the playoffs in 2011, $100,000 will be donated to charity, meaning that 20 names are drawn at random and the 20 charitable groups listed will receive $5,000 each.  If the Hoppers don’t make the playoffs, then $50,000 will be donated to charity; 10 charities would receive $5,000 each.  How great of an idea is this!  Of course I want everyone to suggest EMF as their nonprofit of choice, but there’s no denying that this is a win-win for the entire Greensboro community.  I love seeing the community support one another! But, if you or your friends/family/business are going to be purchasing season tickets, please specify Eastern Music Festival as your nonprofit of choice!

One more plug…Gift Certificates!  Thanksgiving is upon us which means that so is Black Friday.  Here’s my suggestion…instead of fighting those crazy crowds, give the gift of Music to your friends and family this year.  You can purchase EMF Gift Certificates for any amount you wish, and when its Festival time the recipient can apply the gift certificate to any performance they wish.  Sounds like a perfect gift to me!

Here’s the form for gift certificates…or just call down to the office 336.333.7450 ext 32.