Riverfolk Music & Art to hold auction and fund raiser August 31

With a goal of raising $10,000 to benefit its wide-ranging programs, Riverfolk Music and Arts will hold a fund raiser on Saturday, August 31, from 4 – 9:30 pm at Alber Orchard and Cider Mill.

All proceeds will benefit Riverfolk programming–which includes Blacksmith Shop Concerts, Gazebo Concerts, the Cultural Art Strings program, and the newly-formed Dance Manchester series.

Since 2001, Riverfolk Music and Arts has existed to engage the community in music and arts experiences, which nurture creativity and promote cultural diversity. The Blacksmith Shop Concerts are a once-a-month live performance in the intimate setting of Manchester’s historic blacksmith shop. Summertime Gazebo Concerts provide free outdoor concerts once a week during the summer months. Cultural Art Strings is a youth music education program that exposes children ages 5-12 to instruction in violin, viola, cello, bass, and guitar through private lessons. They also sponsor group classes, summer day camp that includes art enrichment, outreach concerts, and formal recitals. Riverfolk’s newest series, Dance Manchester, is a quarterly community dance that gets people up and moving learning new skills or showing off old ones.

Riverfolk’s current revenue sources include 70% program, 10% grants, and 10% donations. The remaining 10% is currently being provided with in-kind services through volunteer work. Without additional donations, we are unable to qualify for additional grant dollars, which typically require 2 to 1 matching amounts. These matching amounts tell the granting agencies that communities are invested in the programs we offer.

Live performances will be provided throughout the event by Cultural Art Strings, Westbound Situation, Steamboat, and Louisiana-based band Joe Hall and the Cane Cutters.

Food and drink will be provided by Fresh Forage, a local Ann Arbor restaurant that uses locally-sourced and foraged ingredients to craft healthy bowls, lunch, dinner, and brunch on the weekends.

A Silent Auction will take place until 7 pm. Local artists Nancy Feldkamp, Margaret Shaw, David Nelson Pottery, and Bob Miller–woodworker, have each committed to donating a piece to the auction.

Volunteers and donations are still needed! Contact us at riverfolkmusicandarts@gmail.com or call 734.223.6876
 Artists who wish to donate art or antique instrument items
 Volunteers who wish to help out 1 – 2 hour shifts available
 Sponsorships are available at $200 each; get your name in the program, website, social media, and signage
 Individual donations can be made online at riverfolkmusicandarts.org or by mail at PO Box 146, Manchester, MI 48158

Entering the grounds is FREE and open to the public. Tickets to the 8 pm concert/dance with Joe Hall and The Cane Cutters will be available at the door for a suggested donation of $10. Food and drink purchases will require cash. Silent Auction Items may be purchased with cash or credit card only.

Why should you consider donating to Riverfolk? Studies have proved time and time again that investing in the cultural sector of a community helps to increase economic activity by bringing people into town to experience art, music, dance or theatre. People visiting our town will often pair up attendance at a cultural event with the purchase of other items including gas, dinner, groceries, or gifts. *Source

Thank you for your support of the Riverfolk Music & Arts Organization!

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.