Epiphone Helps Cleveland Rockst Posted on 6/19/2009
Epiphone has announced its support in the launch of Cleveland Rocks, a community arts project that celebrates the unique artistic excellence and diversity of the city of Cleveland. Featuring Epiphone Les Paul guitars that are to be artistically designed by Ohio-based visual artists and celebrities, this project will serve as an artistic reminder and display of Cleveland's lush musical heritage and unwavering commitment to music that Rocks! Once completed, the guitars will be exclusively exhibited at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and subsequently auctioned off to raise funds for three local non-profit organizations: the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Greater Cleveland Film Commission, and The Cleveland Music School Settlement.
"We have launched similar projects in various cities over the past few years with great success. Cleveland has always been a city with rich traditions, diverse communities and an extraordinary amount of community support," said Henry Juszkiewicz, Chairman and CEO of Gibson Guitar, parent company of Epiphone. "We are very excited about hosting this public arts project and supporting the three organizations that will benefit while drawing national attention to one of the best cities in America."
"Since Alan Freed hosted the first rock and roll concert here in Cleveland in 1952, this city has had a long, rich and storied musical heritage. By partnering with our great friends at Gibson, Epiphone, The Greater Cleveland Film Commission, and the Cleveland Music School Settlement, this program allows us to leverage the talents of the Cleveland arts community to support the award-winning educational programs here at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It also offers a unique opportunity to promote our history while at the same time providing support to our cultural assets," said Terry Stewart, President and CEO of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
"I am very excited for this opportunity to work with Gibson and Epiphone Guitar to bring a unique fundraising event into Cleveland. We at the film commission look forward to working with the artists who will be painting guitars and the very deserving people at the Rock Hall and Cleveland Music School Settlement. Working with the local creative talent to bring fresh ideas from four great organizations together to benefit our great city is sure to bring major benefits in many ways, and we at the film commission are honored Gibson and Epiphone have chosen to work with us," said Ivan Schwarz, Executive Director of The Greater Cleveland Film Commission.
Once completed, the guitars will be exclusively exhibited at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in the Fall of 2009. A gala auction event conducted by world-renowned Julien's Auctions will be held at the conclusion of the exhibit with all proceeds benefitting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the Greater Cleveland Film Commission and the Cleveland Music School Settlement. The project is administered through the Gibson Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Gibson Guitar, which is dedicated to improving the quality of life through its support of the arts, education, health & welfare and environmental causes worldwide. In the coming weeks Cleveland Rocks will announce its official "Call for Artists" and steering committee selections. The steering committee will be comprised of the "Who's Who" in the city of Cleveland. Along with Epiphone Guitar and the Gibson Foundation, the steering committee will help to determine what artwork makes its way onto one of these incredible guitars.
For more, visit www.ClevelandRocks.Epiphone.com
2380
disclaimer | privacy policy
All content copyright 2010 Vintage Guitar, Inc. All rights reserved.
Vintage Guitar is a registered trademark of Vintage Guitar, Inc.
designed and programmed by inet technologies
