Dear Friend,

2009 has been an active and successful year for Hera Gallery. Since our recent move off of Main Street, Hera has continued to be a proactive member of our community. It is important that Hera maintains a consistent presence, continuing to build upon our long tradition of bringing progressive programming to the area.

This letter marks the one-year anniversary of Hera Gallery’s displacement from Main Street, and our consequent loss of a permanent gallery space. Hera has been expanding our outreach programs during this time, focusing on using this challenge as an opportunity to bring art experiences to the public in new and exciting formats.

During the past year we produced a transportable gallery, The Mobile Art Project, which brought contemporary art to a variety of locations in Rhode Island. In collaboration with the Courthouse Center for the Arts we curated and presented the exhibitions, The Sculptural Element and Miracle Due, Gonna Come True which presented the work of Latin American artists. Last spring we organized a three part documentary film series shown at the Women’s Center at URI and at the Peace Dale Library, presenting films by Rhode Island filmmakers from the Women’s Documentary Collective. Hera Gallery continues its partnership with Bagelz of Wakefield by curating numerous exhibitions featuring local artists at the Meeting Room Gallery.

In the future, we have plans to utilize the Mobile Art Project to feature a new installation by another Rhode Island artist. Hera Gallery will also work be working with artist member John Kotula to present a series of exhibitions featuring young artists and their mentors. Hera is excited to be working with students from the University of Rhode Island next semester, providing internship experiences.

None of these events would be possible without the help of friends like you. Community support provides approximately one third of our operating budget; Hera is only able to generate these events with the charitable donations of our community members. Matching grants from RISCA, RICH and the Puffin Foundation of NJ have also provided fiscal support to Hera Gallery in the past year.

Please consider showing your support for the arts and to your community by donating to Hera Educational Foundation/Hera Gallery. It is not easy to quantify the impact that creativity, inspiration, and the arts have on our society; but it is easily acknowledgeable that access to the arts creates a vital environment of growth. Despite the troubling financial climate, contributing to the arts is an investment in our community and the future.

Consistent financial contribution from friends like you has made Hera Gallery a contemporary force in art programming, as well as an artistic haven in a rapidly developing community. Please take a moment to donate to Hera Gallery, every donation counts. It is through your generosity that Hera will be able to maintain our local presence and our excellent programming in the arts. We would like to thank you in advance for your consideration and support.

Sincerely,

Islay Taylor Director
Alexandra Broches President