ArtsUnited is honoring South Florida’s LGBTQ community leaders with style on Tuesday, March 15, with a spectacular dinner/fundraiser/show at Lips in Oakland Park.
Founded in 1999, the non-profit organization, dedicated to producing quality cultural programming that showcases the LGBTQ community, will also be celebrating its 23rd birthday.
“We first celebrated our 20th birthday at LIPS in 2019, then took a break due to COVID-19. This will be an annual event to celebrate what we have done in the past year and fund raise for our future,” said ArtsUnited president Chuck Williams.
Phil Cordell, Michael Goodman, Richard Gray and the organization Our Fund are the honorees for the event and were chosen for their support of ArtsUnited.
“ArtsUnited is proud to recognize these honorees who champion equality and diversity in the arts and serve as positive role models in our community,” said Williams. “We are grateful for Lips and for the support of our members and patrons who help us fulfill our mission of sharing and nurturing LGBTQ artists’ contributions in South Florida and beyond.”
Cordell, global head of lifestyle brands/new brand development of Hilton, is one of the nation’s leading hospitality-industry experts; Goodman, founder of GPR, is chair of the Florida Theatrical Association and is an executive committee board member for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce; Gray is the senior vice president of inclusion and accessibility for Visit Lauderdale; and Our Fund Foundation unites donors with organizations supporting the LGBT community.
Lips performer Nicolette will emcee the event, which will feature guest hosts Niki Lopez, Tedd Davis, Ryan Young and Michael Albetta. There will also be an appearance by Michael Dean as Cher.
Celebrating artists
ArtsUnited provides LGBTQ artists, in all genres of art – including visual, music, theater film and fashion – with opportunities to showcase their work and network with other artists.
“We are unique in that we combine many forms of art,” Williams said. “We also do not limit our exhibitions to Broward County or one venue.”
“We are all-inclusive regardless of sexual orientation and we are
all about creating opportunities for artists,” he added.
The non-profit started this year with an exhibit titled Art Vision 2022 at Gallery Six in Fort Lauderdale. In April, they will host their annual event, ArtExplosion, at the Arts Warehouse in Delray Beach.
“This is the first time for this event at Arts Warehouse, but the third year we will produce an exhibit in that space,” Williams explained.
Upcoming events after that include an exhibit at Bailey Contemporary Arts in Pompano Beach for June through August, another show at Gallery 21, Fashion Reaction fashion show in September, the Provocative Art Exhibition in Oakland Park in October, HATCH 1121 in Lake Worth in November and a collaboration with 9Muses Art Center in December.
Divas!
Reservations are required for Dining with the Divas and can be made by visiting artsunitedflorida.com. Tickets are $60 per person which includes a three-course dinner and show. A cash bar is available.
“We hope this event will be sold out, so come celebrate our 23rd birthday,” Williams said.
