The Living Arts Fund cultivates challenging programming that instills a lifelong passion for the arts and sustainability that connects individuals to a larger community through public projects and events.

• We build community by hosting events and exhibitions monthly so that artists and friends can exchange ideas and connect within the showcase of art, film and music
• We cultivate exhibition-making by partnering with companies who understand that art is a vehicle for change
• We work with established and emerging artists to broaden sustainable efforts
• We go after projects that spur community engagement to deepen their understanding of art's functionality in the public realm
• We also curate exhibitions and events at other spaces to cross-pollinate communities through collaborative efforts

Upcoming:

More events are in the making for our upcoming First Person Magazine issue "The Issue that Writes Itself".

Past:

Living Arts "Snow in the Desert / Dessert & Seeking the Present" May 5 & 6th, 2012 @ Ace Hotel & Swim Club, Palm Springs

We invited an all women arts public of community stakeholders to participate in a 2 day and one night symposium of play, wandering, improvised exhibition-making, selections, and tastings. We transformed the Clubhouse at the Ace Hotel into a place of shaping new perspectives and exchanges amongst artists, art fans and locals. LAF Director Betty Nguyen conceptualized a program with an all women voice to tackle conversations addressing what artists want for and from the art world today.

Panel discussion and workshops with:

San Francisco artist Leah Rosenberg crafted an irresistable snow cone selection made of infusions like bubblegum and vodka, prickly pear, and basil and jalapeno. Accompanying the snow cones were napkins embossed with Gertrude Stein's text that read, "With it as it is".

Anna Sew Hoy lead a workshop where participants created her own talisman out of clay and beads. Author and curator Trinie Dalton hosted a make-your-own-book station.

Artist Eve Fowler transported her lost feminist library for the public to peruse.

Artist and musician Abby Portner will perform live.

DJ Dorien Garry plays a smooth jam mix poolside Sunday.

Thank you ACE Hotel Palm Springs and Swim Club for all your support hosting this gathering and conversation. We appreciate your support of opening up the arts at your resort. 

First Person "Radical Dinner" Nov. 10, 2011

First Person Magazine launched its fifth issue / book "Radical Foods", with this 150 person dinner. Thanks to everyone who came, shared and sat together to celebrate our first book under the Living Arts Fund. We hosted this in a special venue and screened Les Blank's film, "Garlic is as Good as Ten Mothers" with Les at our dinner table. A sold out occassion that was a lot of hard work, (my first big dinner effort), big up to my co-editor, artist and chef Leif Hedendal,  all our First Person Magazine interns, volunteers, contributors and food fighters in the issue who attended: Amy Francescini, Douglas Gayeton, Novella Carpenter, friends, musicians and food enthusiasts who attended.