-
Ford Motor Company to contribute $500,000 toward The Ark as iconic
folk and roots music venue celebrates its 50th anniversary
-
The Ark will recognize this partnership with the naming of the Ford
Listening Room at The Ark.
-
Contribution reinforces Ford’s strong commitment to arts across
southeast Michigan, ensures The Ark will remain a vibrant location for
music and community outreach
Company Website:
http://corporate.ford.com/
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- (Business Wire)
Ford Motor Company is building on its strong commitment to the arts by
contributing $500,000 to The Ark, Michigan’s iconic folk and roots music
venue celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
The Ark will recognize this commitment from Ford with the naming of the
Ford Listening Room at The Ark.
“The Ark is a cultural treasure, not just for southeast Michigan, but
for musicians around the world,” said Jim Vella, president, Ford Motor
Company Fund and Community Services, the charitable arm of Ford Motor
Company. “Our contribution will help ensure The Ark remains a vibrant
home for performers and an important community resource.”
Ford first started supporting The Ark in 1991. The $500,000
contribution, which is coming from both Ford Motor Company and the Ford
Motor Company Fund, is part of a $2.5 million capital campaign to fund
the purchase and renovations of the club’s 400-seat venue. The money
from the campaign will also be used to lay the ground work for increased
community outreach activities.
“Ford is a long-standing partner and truly values The Ark’s mission,”
said Marianne James, executive director of The Ark. “This is a
transformational gift. It helps safeguard our mission for future
generations and supports us in expanding what The Ark can provide to
Michigan and the music world.”
Founded in a house by four local churches in 1965, The Ark grew from a
fireside gathering place for music and poetry near the University of
Michigan campus into a regular stop for musicians ranging from Doc
Watson to Patti Smith. The Ark moved to its current location at 316 S.
Main Street in Ann Arbor in 1996 and purchased the space in 2012. The
nonprofit venue hosts over 300 live shows a year.
Ford’s support for the arts, including folk music, dates back to Henry
Ford, who sponsored fiddle contests in the 1920s. More recently, Ford
Motor Company Fund has donated $150 million over 10 years to enrich the
quality of life for people living in southeastern Michigan. In addition
to supporting major institutions such as the Detroit Institute of Arts
and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Ford this spring sponsored Detroit
Boom City, a multi-media exhibition designed to show how artists can
stimulate growth and sustainability in urban neighborhoods.
About Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services
Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services works with community
and global partners to advance driving safety, education and community
life. Ford Motor Company Fund has operated for more than 65 years with
ongoing funding from Ford Motor Company. Ford Driving Skills for Life is
free, interactive, hands-on safety training focused on skill development
and driving techniques, while addressing inexperience, distractions and
impaired driving.Innovation in education is encouraged through
Ford Blue Oval Scholars, Ford Next Generation Learning and other
inspiring programs that enhance high school learning and provide college
scholarships and university grants. The Ford Volunteer Corps enlists
more than 30,000 Ford employees and retirees each year to work on local
projects that strengthen their communities and improve people’s lives in
more than 40 countries around the world. For more information, visit http://community.ford.com.
About The Ark
Considered one of the top music clubs in the world, The Ark is
renowned for the quality and breadth of its programming. The Ark is an
intimate 400-seat club presenting performers who fall into the
wide-ranging genres of folk and roots music.Celebrating 50 years
in 2015, The Ark is a non-profit organization dedicated to the
enrichment of the human spirit through the presentation, preservation
and encouragement of folk, roots and ethnic music and related arts. The
Ark provides a welcoming atmosphere for all people to listen to, learn
about, perform and share music.Visit theark.org
for more information.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150615005406/en/
Contacts:
Ford Motor Company Fund
Todd Nissen
313-322-4898
tnissen@ford.com
or
The
Ark
Barb Chaffer Authier
734-761-1800 ext 26
barb@theark.org
Source: Ford Motor Company
© 2024 Canjex Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.