Thank You For Responding To This Special Letter
Dear Friend,
In a world where war and the language of power disrupts our daily lives—whether it's the continued conflict in the Middle East, the aftermath of 9/11, the war on terrorism or the threat to our civil liberties—we simply cannot afford to stand silently by.
For we recognize that the incredible power of music, poetry, art, literature, film and theatre have the potential to speak louder than violence and demagoguery. The creative work of artists has the affect of bringing us together, of demonstrating the solidarity between people of all nationalities, cultures and religions. We cannot allow the language of power and dominance to win out over our own higher spirits as artists and visionaries all.
There is an enormous amount that people of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean origin share in common‹regardless of the history of conflict represented by their governments. And there is a tremendous potential for Americans who find a compelling interest in these rich cultures to participate in creating a new dynamic in our city.
Levantine Cultural Center has been established in Los Angeles precisely for the purpose of bringing us all together with a common vision for a better future.
Whether it is the beauty of poetry by Arab women poets, the literary narrative of Terence Ward in his memoir of Iran (Searching for Hassan), or an evening of contemporary and classical/mystical Persian dance, the numerous world music concerts, BookGroup conversations, ArtSalon explorations or insightful lectures, Levantine Cultural Center exists in Los Angeles as an oasis of contemporary arts and traditional cultures, as an answer to the anomie of war, censorship and brutality.
We have an amazing line-up for the fall of 2002, but we need your help to pull it off.
We need your support in order to put on our programs, to support our modest staff, and build momentum so that we can obtain our own physical premises! Currently our programs take place at:
- Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center, 681 Venice Blvd., Venice
- Pacific Arts Center, 10469 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles
We are appealing to you to make room for Levantine Cultural Center, in terms of your time and your pocketbook! Become a member, today! For without membership growth, on a monthly basis, this small but robust arts organization cannot survive.
You might also consider becoming a member of our Advisory Board or our Board of Directors. It is largely thanks to the generous donations in hard cash and time by our Board members that we've been able to get the Center off the ground. To join us in this remarkable journey please send us your cover letter and biography, or curriculum vitae, by snail mail to the address below.
Everyday people pay us compliments for the work we do at Levantine Cultural Center, but rather than sing our own praises, we invite you to visit our web site once again, and visit the pages from previous programming. (You can also read about us in the Los Angeles Times—just do a search under "levantine" in the latest search engine, or under Archives.)
In the past, your support as members or simply as contributors have enabled us to create great events. Now you can help us by underwriting a great fall line-up of lectures, concerts, ArtSalons and more—from Doris Bittar's multimedia presentation "New Visions of Art and Islam," to lectures on "Jews in the Islamic World" and from an evening of Middle Eastern stand-up comics and satirists to a range of world music concerts, art exhibits, theatre and other special events!
You can start by writing a check and by calling our offices, at 323-650-7010.
Our Friends of Levantine Cultural Center membership is $120—just $10 a month to support the only pan-cultural Middle Eastern/Mediterranean center in the region.
The first 10 new members who sign up upon visiting this page will receive a pair of tickets (minimum $40 value) to a very special concert performance: The Philharmonic Society will be presenting THE MASTERS OF PERSIAN MUSIC on October 20, 2002 as a part of the Eclectic Orange Festival. This concert includes master of Persian traditional singing, Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Hossein Alizadeh on the tar (long-necked lute), Kayhan Kalhor on the kamancheh (spiked-fiddle), and Homayoun Shajarian on the tombak (goblet drum) and vocals. This will be an exciting and unique evening with a crowd of 3,000 music lovers!
We also have a basic membership at $60 (just $5 a month) for students, seniors and sliding scale. If you sign up for the basic membership during August 2002, we'll reserve for you a special gift CD or book from our growing inventory. To join now or to learn more about membership, visit our sign-up page today!
This is an important appeal to all those who have been on our mailing list and have been to at least one of our programs during the past few months:
- Arab Women Poets
- Middle East Short Video Night
- Short Plays After 9/11
- Author Terence Ward Reading From Searching For Hassan
- Concerts with Yair Dalal, Ney Nava Dance Theatre et al
- Levantine
BookGroup ArtSalon Staged Reading of "The Tree Climber" by
Tewfik al-Hakim
These evenings offered a sampling of what Levantine Cultural Center aspires to continue to do—on an even more impressive scale—but to that end we need to grow our membership. Your continuing support will enable us to:
- maintain our small staff and office
- acquire a better computer
- print our brochure and fund-raising plan
- apply
for grant funding, and for subsidized performance/exhibition/conference
facilities from a municipal or state agency
Please take a few minutes to look over the following information, print these pages and return them forthwith to:
Levantine Cultural Center
8424A Santa Monica Blvd., N. 789
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Please join us with your contribution today!
The Board of Directors:
Elie Chalala • Jordan Elgrably • Saeed Jonoubi • Shida Pegahi • Elio Zarmati
Each of these Board of Directors members has contributed financially and in other ways at the Founder level because we passionately believe that it is time Los Angeles had a pan-cultural arts center devoted to the diverse cultures of the Middle East and Mediterranean. Don't you?
Join now! We Are A Membership-Supported Center!
Become a new member of Levantine Cultural Center at a time when your support really counts. Receive special attention and perks, such as discounts to events and free entry to some programs.
Again, the first 10 new memberships at the Friend or higher level will receive a pair of tickets (minimum $40 value!) to the "Persian Masters with the Orange County Philharmonic" on October 20, 2002, a concert including the famed Hossein Alizadeh.
You'll have the satisfaction of knowing that your participation during our youth helped lay the long-term foundation of the Center. Become a true Friend of Levantine Cultural Center today—it's one of the finest gestures you can make.
You can pay by credit card or check, and we can even arrange direct deposit.
Friends of Levantine Center Membership $120 [Includes a special gift of a book or CD and discounts to many events throughout the year, plus two free tickets to a major event, a minimum $40 value!] Think of it as only $10 a month to support the only pan-cultural Middle Eastern/Mediterranean center of its kind in Southern California, and probably anywhere in the country. Put us high up in your hierarchy of values—Levantine Cultural Center is here to stay. We'll include a free annual subscription to Al Jadid and more benefits will accrue to our Friends as we progress.
Student, Senior, Sliding Scale Membership $60 [this is only $5 a month, a small sum for a large vision, but some restrictions apply]
Check here and for an extra $9 ($69 total) you'll receive an annual subscription to Al Jadid Magazine of Arab arts and cultures at a 50% discount from the current subscription rate.
Associate Membership $200 [Same as Friend level, plus an additional membership gift.]
Benefactor $500 [Your support will sponsor an important cultural program during the year, and you or the entity of your choice will be named as a sponsor if desired.]
Founder $1,000 [Your support will sponsor a major cultural program or growth incentive and you or the entity of your choice will be named as a sponsor.]
Other _________
You can pay by credit card (you must call 323.650.7010) or mail your check to:
Levantine Cultural Center
8424A Santa Monica Blvd. Nº 789
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Remember, to pay by credit card, please call our office, 323.650.7010.
Additional Needs
Here are several other ways to contribute and receive a tax write-off (tax.i.d. 91-2156607):
Donate a recent-model Macintosh computer (eMac, Powerbook, G3 or G4).
Donate printing services for a calendar or brochure.
Sponsor a mailing for $185.
Donate technical support to streamline our office computer system.
Contribute a supply of new CDs, books, tickets or other goods Levantine Cultural Center can offer as membership gifts and incentives.
Become a volunteer!
Submit your application to become a member of the Board of Directors, or our National Advisory Board—a distinguished group of authors, academics, entrepreneurs, artists and philanthropists.
To learn about just a few of the programs we're working on for 2003 see below!
Meanwhile, we offer this box so you can contribute your own suggestions for programming:
Programs wishes (sky's the limit!)
Upcoming Programs and Incentives in 2002 and 2003
All programs are subject to change, with notice. All Rights Reserved © 2002 Levantine Cultural Center
- Artist Doris Bittar on "New Visions of Art and Islam" at the next ArtSalon, August 29, 2002
- Author
Alev Lytle Croutier on her new Levantine novel, Seven Houses,
September, 26, 2002
- Middle East Concert Showcase on October 10, 2002
- Outrageous Middle East Stand-Up Comics, November 2002
- Best Middle East DJs Holiday Groove Party, December 2002
- "Ecstatic Poets & The Spirit of Rumi" conference in 2003
- "The End of Orientalism" conference in 2003
- Middle East Film Fest: A Cultural Conversation, 3rd Edition, April 2003
- Middle
East Arts Festival, First Annual, Summer 2003
And each month. Levantine Cultural Center offers its staples, the BookGroup and ArtSalon.
In 2003, we will issue a valuable membership card with special discounts of 10-20% at participating music and book stores, art and photo supply stores, restaurants and a range of merchants and service providers.
If you are a merchant or have services to offer, please
contact our office at your earliest convenience.
