FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GOING ONCE…GOING TWICE…GOING ONLINE!

“Backstage Treasures…and More!”

Online Auction 2008

www.CincinnatiArts.ORG/backstage

Online Bidding Opens November 17, 2008

Cincinnati, OH – At 8:00AM on Monday, November 17, 2008, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) raises the curtain on it’s annual Backstage Treasures…and More!, – an online auction that supports CAA’s arts education programs.  And once again CAA is partnering with cMarket, Inc. – the leading online auction platform for nonprofit and school fundraising – to bring the auction to its bidders and donors.

The auction will run from November 17 - December 7 – just in time for holiday shopping – and promises to have a major impact on the community. CAA members and other potential bidders will soon be receiving e-mails about the auction, which may be forwarded to their friends and family, thus creating an unlimited number of guests who will “virtually attend” and take part in the auction. The public can also participate by visiting the auction website at www.CincinnatiArts.ORG/backstage .

CAA has assembled an exciting catalog of auction items to encourage frequent bidding.  Items up for bid include: a faux mink coat from Fabulous-Furs, an exclusive diamond lecture party, a behind the scenes tour of the Cincinnati Zoo, autographed memorabilia from both athletes and artists, and many other exciting items and packages.

Money raised by the auction will benefit CAA’s arts and education programs such as SchoolTime (which brings students to the Aronoff Center and Music Hall) and Artists on Tour (which takes local artists to area classrooms). In addition, funds will help support the visual arts programming at the Weston Art Gallery, including exhibitions by local and regional artists, the Gallery’s popular art programs for families, and Docentitos – its docent training for children.

Everyone is welcome to visit the auction online at www.CincinnatiArts.ORG/backstage to browse, shop, or just drop by and sign the guestbook to show their support of CAA. Item donations are still being accepted – simply log on to the site and click on the “Donate Now” button. Users can also contribute to the auction’s success by using the “Refer a Friend” button.

For more information about getting involved, contact Sabrina Sutton, CAA Development Manager, at (513) 977-4104 or ssutton@cincinnatiarts.org .

BACKSTAGE TREASURES… AND MORE 2008 – Sponsors

National City Bank

Merrill Lynch

Do Downtown

     Horan Associates, Inc.

Lenox Wealth Management

Widmer’s

Cincinnati Arts Association

Founded in 1992, the Cincinnati Arts Association (CAA) is a not-for-profit organization that oversees the programming and management of the Tri-state’s finest performing arts venues – the Aronoff Center for the Arts and Music Hall – and is dedicated to supporting performing and visual arts. Each year, CAA presents a diverse schedule of events; serves upwards of one million people in its venues; features the work of talented local, regional, and national artists in the Weston Art Gallery (located in the Aronoff Center); and supports the work of more than one dozen resident companies. Since the inception of its acclaimed arts education programs in 1995, CAA has reached nearly three-quarters of a million students.

CAA is proud to be a member of Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Greater Cincinnati Convention & Visitors Bureau, Greater Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky African American Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Over-the-Rhine Chamber of Commerce, and Performing Arts Center Consortium.

For more information, visit www.CincinnatiArts.ORG .

cMarket Inc.

cMarket, Inc., of Cambridge, Massachusetts, enables nonprofits to easily create, extend, market and manage their fundraising auctions online. With the ability to reach the inboxes of their community or target customer set, cMarket helps nonprofits to maximize auction revenue through increased bidding, auction sponsors, and added donor value. cMarket’s solution has helped numerous nonprofits nationwide in the arts, healthcare, faith-based and education sectors raise awareness and significant funds. For more information about cMarket, including the most current running auctions, visit http://www.cMarket.com 

ADDITIONAL CONTACT:

Sabrina Sutton, Development Manager

Cincinnati Arts Association

(513) 977-4104

ssutton@cincinnatiarts.org

#  #  #