The King Arts Complex Heritage Concert Series: More than Music, it is a tradition that Gives Back
Posted 05-28-09
Columbus, Ohio: May 27, 2009--- May 11, 2009 Barbara Nicholson, Executive Director of the King Arts Complex announced to staff that without a title sponsor or co-sponsors the Heritage Concert Series might have to be eliminated from the schedule of events this summer “due to reductions in individual and corporate donations to non profit institutions in general, and specifically The King Arts Complex. We are in jeopardy and simply cannot continue to provide free concerts in the park.”
The Heritage Concert Series has been a gift from the King Arts Complex to the Central Ohio community for the last ten years becoming a main ingredient on the cultural menu for many. On May 17th during the 22nd anniversary celebration of the Complex, Mayor Michael B. Coleman announced that he was pledging his support to ensure the Heritage Concert series would remain a part of the cultural landscape of the community.
Upon learning of the possible loss of the series, President and general Manager of the Columbus Radio Group, which includes Smooth Jazz WJZA, Mr. Alan Goodman said “the Heritage Concert Series is an integral part of the fabric of the community and Columbus, and as such it cannot just go away”. To insure that this will not happen, he committed WJZA to assist with saving the series by holding a four day “radio-thon” to help raise $25,000. The “Save the Heritage Concert Series Radio-thon” will begin June 8th. It is anticipated that the community will help to raise the needed funds.
As we approach the eleventh year of the King Arts Complex Heritage Concert Series, we are very aware of the challenges that we all will face this fall. The KAC recognizes that if the community is not healthy, neither are we. To that point the KAC has donated over 240 pounds of food to the Mid-Ohio Food Bank, offered Pay As You Can for one of our season programs, advertised a buy one membership gift one option for the month of April, and lowered season ticket prices across the board, as part of our own ‘stimulus’ package. The King Arts Complex is also asking the community, public and private, to consider ways on which they can support and ensure that the cultural landscape of this city and state maintain the King Arts Complex, the soul of the city and certainly the Heritage Concert Series!
This free family event, on eight consecutive Thursdays, has featured excellence in various musical genres, including jazz, blues and soul by Central Ohio’s own home grown artists. People of all ages, ethnicities and socio-economic status bring blankets, lawn chairs and appetites for eight laid back evenings of music, numbers reaching up to 3,500 people at past concerts. This years’ 2009 series is slated for July 9th through August 27th from 6:30 until 9:30 PM.
The mission of the King Arts Complex is to enrich and improve the quality of life in our community and society, creating enhanced understanding and harmony by preserving, presenting and fostering the contributions of African Americans through creative expression and education while building bridges of understanding and harmony among all people.
For more information, call The King Arts Complex at 614-645-KING (5464) or visit www.thekingartscomplex.com