Gen Art Plans for Fresh Faces, Hosts N.Y. Fundraiser
Gen Art—the New York–based art, film, music and fashion nonprofit organization—has enlisted several of its famous alumni, as well as other designers and actors, to help host a fund-raiser on June 24 in New York to raise money for the organization, which is challenged with recouping lost corporate funding for its events.
The organization has implemented several drastic measures—including downsizing several regional offices into virtual spaces and putting its Gen Art Styles competition on hold—but Gen Art founder and Chief Executive Officer Ian Gerard stressed that plans continue for its marquee fashion event, Fresh Faces in Fashion, which will be held in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.
“We are definitely doing our Fresh Faces in Fashion show in Los Angeles around Fashion Week, as well as in New York and Chicago during their respective fashion weeks,” said Gerard, who added that Gen Art will be the official closing show of Chicago Fashion Focus.
Gerard said he and Gen Art staffers are currently working organizing a multi-day event in Los Angeles that will kick off with the Fresh Faces show followed by solo runway shows and other events. The Oct. 9–11 dates are tentative, and details are slim.
“[It] is a totally new concept for us,” said Gerard, who said his organization is in talks with a few key potential partners in fashion, entertainment and media. “All of this is in the development process and obviously depends on sponsorship,” he added.
According to Gerard, Gen Art’s San Francisco, Miami and Chicago offices “went virtual, but we still have a regular L.A. office, as we have considerable senior staff based in L.A., as well as our N.Y. headquarters.”
(Gen Art’s Southern California office is located in Culver City and is headed by Jen Egan, Gen Art’s national vice president of marketing and business development.)
Gen Art’s New York fund-raiser—dubbed the I “Heart” Gen Art: 15th Anniversary Benefit—will be hosted by designers Zac Posen, Rebecca Taylor and Georgina Chapman, as well as actors Adrian Grenier, Nick Cannon, Adrien Brody, William H. Macy, John Leguizamo and Alan Cumming. Held at 7 W. 34th Street, the event is expected to draw 1,000 people.
Gen Art has no plans to host a West Coast version of the fund-raising event, which Gerard described as “massive.”
And Gerard underscored his group’s commitment to Los Angeles.
“We will continue to be a force to be reckoned with for L.A. Fashion Week and otherwise,” he said. —Alison A. Nieder
