amfAR HOLDS INAUGURAL BENEFIT EVENT DURING ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Bennah Serfaty, amfAR Sr. Director of Communications, (212) 806-1607, bennah.serfaty@amfar.org
Natalie Marquis, amfAR Media Relations Associate, (212) 806-1694, natalie.marquis@amfar.org
Miami Beach, FL, December 7, 2012—On Thursday, December 6,
2012, amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research held its first ever benefit event
during Art Basel Miami Beach, the Inspiration Miami Beach Party. The
invitation-only dance party was held at Soho Beach House, and was attended by
amfAR Chairman Kenneth Cole, Maria Cuomo Cole, Russell Simmons, Dita Von Teese,
John Demsey, St. Vincent, Riccardo Tisci, Joseph Altuzarra, Lily Kwong, Larry
Boland, Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, Brian Atwood, and Bobby Flay, among many others.
The event featured Belvedere cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction of
contemporary works of art, and special guest DJ sets by DJ Honey Dijon, DJ
Kiss, and The Dolls: Mia Moretti and Caitlin Moe. Proceeds from the event will
benefit amfAR’s life-saving AIDS research initiatives.
Honorary Chairs of the Inspiration Miami Beach Party
included Joseph Altuzarra, Fabien Baron, Klaus Biesenbach, Marianne Boesky,
Larry Boland, Christopher Bollen, John Demsey, Santiago Barberi Gonzalez,
Marian Goodman, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, Dan Rangone,
Michelle and Jason Rubell, Chloë Sevigny, and St. Vincent. Sponsors included M·A·C Viva Glam, Piaget, Moët Hennessy, and
Interview Magazine. The event’s silent auction was presented by TWO x TWO for
AIDS and Art, an annual event held in Dallas, TX, that has raised more than $40
million over the past 14 years, jointly benefiting amfAR and the Dallas Museum
of Art. The silent auction featured works by renowned artists such as Robert
Rauschenberg, Cindy Sherman, Ryan McGinley, and Steven Klein, among others. In
addition, artnet Auctions hosted an exclusive online auction in conjunction
with Inspiration Miami, which will also benefit amfAR.
The Inspiration Miami Beach Party was the latest installment
in amfAR’s Inspiration event series, launched in 2010 and produced by Josh Wood
Productions. Inspiration events, held to
date in New York, Los Angeles, Paris, and São Paulo, celebrate all aspects of
men’s style while raising critical funds for amfAR’s AIDS research
programs.
Inspiration events have featured performances by legendary
artists such as Katy Perry, Grace Jones, Debbie Harry, Jennifer Hudson, Scissor
Sisters, Cyndi Lauper, Courtney Love, and Sinéad O’Connor. Recipients of the event
series’ Piaget Award of Inspiration have included James Franco, Kevin Huvane,
Francisco Costa, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Fergie, Michael Kors, Ricky Martin, and
Robert Duffy and Marc Jacobs International. To date, the Inspiration series has
raised more than $6 million for amfAR.
About amfAR:
amfAR, The
Foundation for AIDS Research is one of the world’s leading nonprofit
organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention,
treatment education, and the advocacy of sound AIDS-related public policy. Since
1985, amfAR has invested more than $366 million in its programs and has awarded
grants to more than 2,000 research teams worldwide. www.amfar.org
About Josh Wood Productions:
Josh Wood
Productions has produced and promoted socially conscious events and concerts
featuring artists such as Arcade Fire, Lady Gaga, Ricky Gervais, Norah Jones,
Kylie Minogue, Lou Reed, Scissors Sisters, Michael Stipe, and the Pet Shop
Boys. Their events have raised money and awareness for Downtown for Democracy,
The Guggenheim Foundation, Empire State Pride Agenda, Friends of Hillary,
Friends of the Highline, Hetrik Martin Institute, MoveOn, Obama for America,
Oxfam, Rock the Vote, The Royal Shakespeare Company, and Veterans for Peace.
Josh Wood Productions’ latest project, “The Inspiration Gala Series: A
Celebration of Men’s Style,” is an international fashion gala fundraiser
benefiting amfAR. For more information please visit www.joshwoodproductions.com.
About M·A·C Cosmetics:
M·A·C (Make-up
Art Cosmetics), a leading brand of professional cosmetics, was created in
Toronto, Canada in 1984 and is part of The Estée Lauder Companies, Inc. The
company’s popularity has grown through a tradition of word-of-mouth endorsement
from makeup artists, models, photographers, and journalists around the world.
M·A·C is now sold in 79 countries/territories worldwide. Follow M·A·C on
Twitter @MACcosmetics (twitter.com/maccosmetics), become a M·A·C fan on
Facebook (facebook.com/maccosmetics), watch M·A·C videos on YouTube, and find
our M·A·C Senior Artists at macartiststweets.com. For a M·A·C location visit
maccosmetics.com.
About artnet:
artnet is the
leading resource for the international art market. Online since 1995, artnet is
host to approximately 2 million visitors each month and provides reliable
information and market transparency to art collectors, galleries, auction
houses, museums, and investors alike.
Delta Air Lines
is the Official Airline of amfAR.