December 29, 2008

Dear Friend,

Manilatown Center is a place for the young and old to gather, talk stories, reminisce, and laugh at shared memories – a place that inspires all who come through the doors. Since we've open our doors in 2005, we've accomplished the following:

·         18 exhibitions, including a 4-part series on the Filipino Diaspora, a 4-part series on Globalization, and two major exhibitions honoring our manongs – Bill Sorro and Al Robles

·         Over 60 workshops, performances, readings, film screenings and panel discussions

·         Over 40 gallery tours for visitors and partnered with over 30 organizations

·         Reached over 10,000 students, families and seniors

Working with community groups, individual artists, seniors, and youth, we've showcased the creation of original works inspired by Filipino themes, experience, and traditions.  These creative works and community programs help to promote our history, heritage and culture. Thank you for your time and financial contributions in making this happen. In this time of economic turmoil and shrinking resources, we look to your continued support in the year ahead.  Underway are several exciting projects that will engage our community in learning about our Filipino American legacy:

·         Re-envisioning I-Hotel Project: In 2009 we will partner with the San Francisco Art Institute to present a multi-media project to re-envision the I-Hotel as if eviction had not taken place. This intriguing question will spark thought-provoking dialogue and participation amongst students, artists, activists, scholars, former tenants of the I-Hotel, and the Manilatown community. The workshops, exhibition and related events will engage audiences to be participants through an interactive approach to learning and contextualizing information.

·         I-Hotel Mural: We are also excited about the large-scale public artwork that will be executed on the face of the International Hotel. Working together with the Chinatown Community Development Center , we have chosen an artist, Johanna Poethig, to create a mural on the front of the Hotel that will pay tribute to the I-Hotel struggle and at the same time celebrate the community's triumph.

·         Manilatown Archive Project: Our Dado and Maria Banatao Education Center currently hosts historical and contemporary information about the culture, contributions, and achievements of California 's early Filipino immigrant community. We are in the process of creating a database and website which will include samples of our materials that will be accessible to the general public.

MHF's other programs include affordable housing application assistance, and various activities for seniors, such as movie screenings, karaoke nights, computer labs and rooftop gardening. We present regular exhibitions and auxiliary events, including readings, panel discussions, and performances. We also host presentations for the scores of students that come by the center.

In order to do these meaningful projects that will benefit many sectors of our community, your support is critical at this time. Your tax-deductible gift of $500, $250, $100 or any amount will help MHF commemorate the historical events and traditions of our community and provide a space for creative expression and intergenerational and cross-cultural interaction. We have received a $5000 challenge match from an anonymous donor. Your contribution can be doubled if you send in your money before December 31^st.

Please send your tax-deductible donation to the Manilatown Heritage Foundation at 953 Mission Street, Suite 30, San Francisco CA 94013 today. Together, we can!

Sincerely,

Emil A. De Guzman, Board President

Manilatown Heritage Foundation 953 Mission Street Suite 30 San Francisco, CA 94103 phone 415-777-1130 fax 415-974-0349

Process for Submitting Work at the International Hotel (I-Hotel) Manilatown Center

Thank you for your interest in exhibiting or presenting at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center. Our quarterly exhibitions are themed presentations, with accompanying auxiliary programming. The theme for 2009 is Manilatown and Beyond: Contributions of Filipinos in America.  The general theme will be subdivided into four topics.  You do not have to be Filipino to submit a proposal, but the work must address the Filipino/Filipino American experience. Our suggested exhibition themes are:

1. Overview of Filipino contributions to America

2. Alaskan Canneries

3. Beyond the I-Hotel: Other affordable housing struggles, other hotels, youth and activism, etc.

4. Filipino/Filipino American Farm workers

5. You may suggest a separate topic that fits into our overall theme of Manilatown and Beyond: Contributions of Filipinos in America.

The exhibits will be up for nearly three months starting in January. The quarters are: Jan/Feb/Mar; Apr/May/June; July/Aug/Sept; Oct/Nov/Dec. We also invite proposals for auxiliary events, such as readings, film showings, panel discussions, etc. to present along with the exhibitions. We are now accepting proposals for any of the exhibit areas. The deadline for submissions for the first exhibit is November 7th. You must submit the attached proposal form to be considered.

Manilatown Heritage Foundation (MHF) is a non-profit community-based organization formed in 1994 and incorporated in 1997 to foster the rich cultural traditions of San Francisco's Filipino and Filipino-American community, document and preserve its histories and contributions, and share these legacies with broad audiences and populations. It emerged out of the struggle to defend the tenants' rights to their homes and to preserve the Manilatown District. Our participants and audience represent a cross section of the community, from college students to professionals to recent immigrants to old-timers from the original International Hotel.

The mission of Manilatown Heritage Foundation is to promote social and economic justice for Filipinos in America by preserving our history, advocating for equal access, and advancing our arts and culture. We envision an inspired and self-sustaining organization that effectively and creatively enhances the Filipino community's capacity to shape social, political and economic policies.

MHF's arts programming is mainly centered on events held at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center. We present exhibitions along with related artistic events, such as poetry readings, music performances, film showings, etc. We offer an integrated approach to our programming, incorporating the areas of advocacy, intergenerational activities, arts and culture, historical documentation, and education.

Timeline:

The artwork selection committee meets monthly to review submissions. Art that does not pertain to the current year's theme but reflects the organization's mission may be saved for future shows. The artwork selection committee will review proposals and determine what additional information (including personal interviews) is needed.

For more information please contact: Nancy Hom, Curatorial Consultant (415) 586-7922, nancyhom@sbcglobal.net or Rissa Duque, Program Coordinator, (415) 777-1130 or 415-399-9580, rissa.duque@manilatown.org

Proposal for Exhibition or Auxiliary Programming for I-Hotel Manilatown Center

Description of work (medium, size, quantity, subject matter):

How work relates to our current theme:

What is this work trying to address?

What is the intended audience for this work?

Preferred quarter for exhibiting artwork:

Proposed by:

        Name of artist _________________________________Date________________

        Complete Address __________________________________________________

         _________________________________________________________________

        Phone(s) _________________________________Email_____________________

Mail your proposal, plus slides, DVDs or other visual material (do not send originals), to Manilatown Heritage Foundation

953 Mission Street 30

San Francisco, CA 94103

or email to rissa.duque@manilatown.org

Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of materials.

You may also submit a proposal electronically, with low res jpgs or links to a website.

Process for Submitting Work at the International Hotel (I-Hotel) Manilatown Center

Thank you for your interest in exhibiting or presenting at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center. Our quarterly exhibitions are themed presentations, with accompanying auxiliary programming. The theme for 2009 is Manilatown and Beyond: Contributions of Filipinos in America.  The general theme will be subdivided into four topics.  You do not have to be Filipino to submit a proposal, but the work must address the Filipino/Filipino American experience. Our suggested exhibition themes are:

1. Overview of Filipino contributions to America

2. Alaskan Canneries

3. Beyond the I-Hotel: Other affordable housing struggles, other hotels, youth and activism, etc.

4. Filipino/Filipino American Farm workers

5. You may suggest a separate topic that fits into our overall theme of Manilatown and Beyond: Contributions of Filipinos in America.

The exhibits will be up for nearly three months starting in January. The quarters are: Jan/Feb/Mar; Apr/May/June; July/Aug/Sept; Oct/Nov/Dec. We also invite proposals for auxiliary events, such as readings, film showings, panel discussions, etc. to present along with the exhibitions. We are now accepting proposals for any of the exhibit areas. The deadline for submissions for the first exhibit is November 7th. You must submit the attached proposal form to be considered.

Manilatown Heritage Foundation (MHF) is a non-profit community-based organization formed in 1994 and incorporated in 1997 to foster the rich cultural traditions of San Francisco's Filipino and Filipino-American community, document and preserve its histories and contributions, and share these legacies with broad audiences and populations. It emerged out of the struggle to defend the tenants' rights to their homes and to preserve the Manilatown District. Our participants and audience represent a cross section of the community, from college students to professionals to recent immigrants to old-timers from the original International Hotel.

The mission of Manilatown Heritage Foundation is to promote social and economic justice for Filipinos in America by preserving our history, advocating for equal access, and advancing our arts and culture. We envision an inspired and self-sustaining organization that effectively and creatively enhances the Filipino community's capacity to shape social, political and economic policies.

MHF's arts programming is mainly centered on events held at the I-Hotel Manilatown Center. We present exhibitions along with related artistic events, such as poetry readings, music performances, film showings, etc. We offer an integrated approach to our programming, incorporating the areas of advocacy, intergenerational activities, arts and culture, historical documentation, and education.

Timeline:

The artwork selection committee meets monthly to review submissions. Art that does not pertain to the current year's theme but reflects the organization's mission may be saved for future shows. The artwork selection committee will review proposals and determine what additional information (including personal interviews) is needed.

For more information please contact: Nancy Hom, Curatorial Consultant (415) 586-7922, nancyhom@sbcglobal.net or Rissa Duque, Program Coordinator, (415) 777-1130 or 415-399-9580, rissa.duque@manilatown.org

Proposal for Exhibition or Auxiliary Programming for I-Hotel Manilatown Center

Description of work (medium, size, quantity, subject matter):

How work relates to our current theme:

What is this work trying to address?

What is the intended audience for this work?

Preferred quarter for exhibiting artwork:

Proposed by:

        Name of artist _________________________________Date________________

        Complete Address __________________________________________________

         _________________________________________________________________

        Phone(s) _________________________________Email_____________________

Mail your proposal, plus slides, DVDs or other visual material (do not send originals), to Manilatown Heritage Foundation

953 Mission Street 30

San Francisco, CA 94103

or email to rissa.duque@manilatown.org

Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of materials.

You may also submit a proposal electronically, with low res jpgs or links to a website.

In celebration and in the spirit of the I-Hotel, Chinatown Community Development Center, International Hotel Senior Housing Inc., and Manilatown Heritage Foundation have developed a survey to generate ideas and a vision for the exterior face of the new I-Hotel. Use the following link to fill out the survey:

http://surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=oOE8brXVycR38M5gnXcb%2bWi7gQTMCXksN0FVc8Mg%2fjM%3d

 

The mural will occupy a 20 x 20 foot section of the Hotel facing Kearny Street. To view the surface that will hold the art, please go to http://flickr.com/photos/emanistan/2187117862/. After the surveys are completed, we will review the comments and ideas gathered and offer them to interested artists to develop concepts and proposals for the exterior artwork. A final artist will be chosen in Fall 2008.

If you have any questions or comments, or if you would like to be considered as an artist for the project, please contact Bryant Tan by e-mail at btan@chinatowncdc.org or phone at 415-984-1497 by June 30, 2008. Thank you for your input!