Indigo Arts Alliance presents Spring is in the A.I.R., our Fourth Annual Spring Fundraising Celebration!

Get ready to indulge in an electrifying night of music, dance, and delicious down home flavors! Join us for an evening of celebration and generosity in support of Indigo Arts Alliance’s AIRs (Artist-In-Residency Programs). Our vivacious 2021 AiR Alum, VIVA, will be our hostess with the mostess as we take a look back at the incredible programs of the last four years and share a sneak peek on what’s coming up and what's in store for the future.

With tickets priced at $100, this year’s event will feature a stunning show by the incredible vocalist, Jennifer Rachele and musician Stu Dias. Undoubtedly this promises to leave you with goosebumps. Then, it’s time to hit the dance floor and let loose at our Indigo Poppin’ Dance Party, featuring a DJ set by the incredible multi-talented artist, Firefly! Ain’t nobody can turn out a show that lights all your senses like he can.

And that’s not all - Chef Abdan Johnson will be providing a mouth-watering array of diasporic cuisine selections for your enjoyment throughout the night. We’re talking Jambalaya, Liberian Check Rice and Shrimp, Ghanaian Kelewele, Barbecue Ribs, and more to feed your stomach and your soul!

As part of the night’s festivities, we'll also be holding a paddle raise! This fun and fast portion of the evening will serve as a simple fundraising tool for willing members of the audience to “raise their paddles” and directly support our artist residency programs and public engagement initiatives. We welcome your support in as many ways as possible to ensure Indigo Arts Alliance continues to thrive!

Tickets are limited, so RSVP now to secure your spot for a night of celebration, generosity, and unforgettable flavor. We can’t wait to see you there! RSVP includes your ticketed entry, entertainment, and hors d’oeuvres. Cash bar available.

This fundraiser is made possible in part through the generous sponsorships of Allagash Brewing Company, Coffee By Design, Martin's Point Health Care, Wright-Ryan Homes, & Three of Strong Spirits.

PLEASE NOTE: For the health and safety expectations, all attendees at indoor events and performances are required to provide proof of vaccination against the COVID-19 virus, or a negative PCR test from within the previous 48 hours or a negative ‘Rapid Test’ from the previous 12 hours. It is necessary to also show a legal photo identification along with your vaccination proof, or test result. All proof may be original or digital. There will be extra masks and hand sanitizer stations provided.

About The Organization:

Indigo Arts Alliance (IAA) is an arts incubator in Portland, Maine. Addressing the underrepresentation of Black and Brown artists–Maine-based and world-wide–IAA provides space for dialogue and exchange between artists of African descent and other communities of color through a multidisciplinary artist-in-residency program that embodies a Black-led approach to creativity, community-building, and mentoring. By the end of 2023, the non-profit organization will have served 54 artists in residence. Artists come from a wealth of cultural heritages and multiple countries: African American/US, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Peru, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan and Trinidad.

The organization is rooted in two principles: that art is a key resource for healthy human communities that should be cultivated and celebrated, and that artists play a unique role in strengthening our multiracial democracy. Actively contributing to the Global Black Arts Movement, Indigo Arts Alliance brings its principles to life through collaborations with national and international galleries, museums, and other venues, featuring exhibitions and performances by its AIRs, while also curating symposia and other community engagement activities. To learn more about our work, visit the IAA website at www.indigoartsalliance.me and follow us at @indigoartsalliance.

About The Host and Performers:

Jason Brown, also known as Firefly, is a multi-talented artist and member of the Penobscot Nation. Deeply influenced by the rich cultural heritage of his ancestors, Firefly performs traditional hand drum, Shaker, and vocal songs as well as innovative musical compositions rooted in his ancestral lineage. A hyper creative, Firefly's artistry involves powerful vocals, eye-popping visuals and cutting-edge costumes created by himself and his team. His performances are a journey through Wabanaki culture, utilizing sound, light, color and frequency to place Indigenous people in the here, the now and the future.

Jennifer Rachele is a Haitian-American artist born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She has a profound love for music, theater, and words, and respects the power these arts possess to inspire and heal.

Stu Dias is a singer/songwriter from the New Hampshire seacoast with a wide range of influences from Fats Waller to Tom Waits. He plays most often with the New Orleans flavored septet The Soggy Po Boys but is active with several other projects. His songwriting can be characterized as “not James Taylor” and “decent at daybreak on a farm”.

VIVA is a singer, actor, model, bandleader, dancer, and activist. VIVA's exposure to a variety of genres as a child influenced her musical journey. She made her musical theater stage debut in high school, and later formed her band VIVA & The Reinforcements, which has played hundreds of events in many cities worldwide. VIVA's values–education access, civic participation, and intersectional feminism–are informed by her family legacy. In 2021, she became an IAA Artist-In-Residence with Samuel James and developed material for a solo show that combines activism with joyful dance. VIVA is now live-looping carefully arranged tracks, recording the instrumental parts herself, and delivering performances so juicy that it's hard to believe she's a solo act.