The holiday season is traditionally a time for giving, but choosing what or how to give can often present a challenge. If you’re a photographer, artist, collector, or philanthropist, we’ll try to make the task easier for you.

On December 8th, New Orleans’ United Saints Recovery Project is hosting a benefit dinner and auction to raise funds for its new Community Art Program, and they’re asking artists to donate art for the event.

The United Saints Community Art Program will facilitate the creation and execution of twenty murals across New Orleans, beginning in January 2011. The goal is to create inspirational public art by involving national, international, and local artists and volunteers, all working to create and articulate the vision of each mural. It will teach volunteers and youth the basics of mural painting, as well as offer local artist’s a public canvas’ to display their work for the community to enjoy.

And, because this is the United Saints Recovery Project, this isn’t going to be your typical community art program. United Saints is a three-year-old post Katrina grassroots recovery organization that assists residents with no, or limited, resources to rebuild/restore their properties and community. The organization works primarily in Central City in New Orleans.

The Community Art Program collaborates with local art collectives to increase range and impact in the community. Their project addresses the concerns of, and offers a solution to, temporary unemployment, blighted houses, and at-risk youth located around Central City.

If you’re interested in donating artwork for the benefit dinner, please contact: Art@UnitedSaints.org. All funds raised will directly fund supplies required for the project, such as paint, brushes, scaffolding rentals, industrial top coating, and artist stipends.

Here are the details for the benefit:

When:

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010 from 5-8pm

Where:

Wesley United

2517 Jackson Avenue (at Magnolia)

New Orleans

You can also friend the United Saints Community Art Program on Facebook.

"The greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world is to see something, and tell what it saw in a plain way. Hundreds of people can talk for one who can think, but thousands can think for one who can see. To see clearly is poetry, prophecy, and religion, — all in one." — John Ruskin

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