Press Release 2004
THE JOHN E. PROFANT FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS
3905 State Street. Suite 7-128, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(805) 682-8184 www.profant.org
 
Invitation to the Fan Project
View the "2004 Gallery of Fans"

fan5x.jpg (26632 bytes) Dear Artist,

We invite you to donate a bit of your precious time and talent, by participating in an exciting event. Saks Fifth Avenue has, for the fourth year, generously offered their beautiful State Street and Carrillo Street display windows to showcase some of the work of our artistic friends, as a prelude to the fifth annual Fiesta Finale. The theme is a Fan - Spanish or otherwise. Imagine a decorative fan you have created, as an accessory to an elegant outfit, or for display.  The exhibit will be the last two weeks of July. I hope you will consider participating in the project described below. It offers artists great exposure, and is a fund raiser for the scholarships we offer in Art, Dance, Music, Theater and Literature, and will help bring professional talent to pubic settings. Highlights of the Fan Project publicity from last year:

¨ Montecito Journal - two articles in May, and two in July
¨ CASA Santa Barbara - coverage of the performance and the Fan Project
¨ Santa Barbara NewsPress - articles in April, July and August
¨ KEYT TV - Daily news coverage for 6 days, including several Fan artists
 
FAN PROJECT: Guidelines:
 
Create an operable, or decorative fan, from any media; paint on canvas, ceramic, paper, mosaic, etc. (Please pack the fan for transport - to avoid damage.)

Saks Fifth Avenue will select several of these for display (standard size only) during the last two weeks of July, and you are invited to a preview party for art patrons at Saks during late July, where we will begin the silent auction.  The Fans will then be moved on 8/7 to the Courthouse for the final bidding during Fiesta Finale Gala benefit on August 8, 2004. Here, and on the web at www.profant.org, standard and non-standard size fans will be included.  Proceeds will benefit artists of all ages through our scholarship program.*

Call, and we will answer your questions, arrange to bring you a fan or pickup your finished artwork. Please RSVP this invitation to participate, by sending an email to MProfant@aol.com or call (805) 682-8184 ASAP. Thank you for your donation of a fabulous Fan to support artists of all ages. We all deeply appreciate your support.

Warm regards,

Joyce Cooper, Co-Chair of the Fan Project
JCooperdes@aol.com
John E. Profant Foundation For The Arts

   Talented Gena Davis joins us as the representative for the Fan Project.
She says, "Everyone needs a fan!"
"As a flamenco dancer, I have come to understand the importance of art to our communities, and to our world... It is a universal language. I'm so excited to be a small part of such a wonderful idea - The Fan Project! It is great to be able to use my dancing to help others. Please join me in supporting this benefit for art scholarships. A little bit of your time can make a tremendous difference."

   
* For the past three years scholarships ranging from $500 to $2000, have been given to over 60 recipients by the Profant Foundation. Our mission is to help artists at any stage of their career, and the applications are judged on the basis of both talent and need. These scholarships are not only for classes. They can help an artist complete an exhibit, provide airfare to attend an internship, or pay the rent while injured. See www.profant.org for more information.

View Fans from 2003