The Second Annual “Arts for Hearts” benefit art show will be Thursday, May 8, and Friday, May 9, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Durham Outpatient Center’s second floor atrium. Sponsored by the C. Louis Meyer Foundation, proceeds will be used to establish an endowment for recreation programs that serve adults with developmental disabilities at UNMC’s Munroe-Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation. There is no admission charge.
“We have been relatively successful at developing sheltered work programs and assisted living arrangements in the community for our adult citizens with developmental disabilities,” said Michael Crawford, Re.D., director of the Recreational Therapy program. “Unfortunately, very little priority is given to one of the most basic quality of life issues — recreation.
“For many of the adults who come to our adult social club, it is the one night they can look forward to something other than being home in front of the television. Having a friendship circle, someplace to go and something to look forward to doing is a very important element to being self-determined and independent.
“The empowering thing about our Arts for Hearts benefit is that the actual program participants are helping themselves. They are the artists and this is their event. So instead of being recipients of charity, they are their own fundraisers. All of the proceeds will go into a long-term development fund that will one day enable our staff to deliver more recreation programs.”
There will be many pieces of art and crafts on display for sale. Clients of the MMI Recreational Therapy Program — children, youth and adults with developmental disabilities — created items for sale that include mosaic flower pots, handmade soap, greeting cards, one of a
kind pastels and paintings as well as ceramic sculpture. Participants of the programs will be on hand to talk about the artwork. Some of the pieces are large paintings created by groups of artists working together.
For more information about the event, contact Nicole Giron at 559-3018.