Out North Contemporary Art House has been presenting cutting edge visual, performing, literary and media art in Anchorage for a quarter of a century — also engaging in arts activism, human rights, community development, and life-long education. Since its founding in 1985, Out North has provided a forum for underrepresented artists, especially artists with disabilities, artists of color, LGBTQ artists, and artists whose work pushes traditional boundaries of aesthetics and content Now Out North needs our help. As described on Out North’s blog, a national funder representing one-third of Out North’s budged has “changed direction,” and Out North need to raise money in order to keep giving us all the top-notch stuff they’ve been giving us for the past 25 years. Stuff like —

• Showcasing the work of artists from marginalized communities through artistic collaborations with organizations like Hope Community Resources, the NAACP, Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Alaska Immigration Justice Project, Alzheimer’s Resource Center and Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.
• Providing drama programs at Begich Middle School, East High School, Stellar Secondary School and McLaughlin Youth Center.
• Preserving culture and instilling confidence for Hmong refugee youth through its award winning Khaen music program.
• The seventeen year long community storytelling collaboration, Under :30.

One way you can help is to visit Out North’s blog and hit the “Donate” button.

Another way is to attend this Friday’s performance of “Debutante Balls,” all proceeds of which will benefit Out North.

Friday, November 19 ONLY!
8:00 PM
Tickets available only at the box office at Out North.

$20 door
$15 60+ and Military
$13 Student rush (15 mins before the show)
Double it and stay for STS DJ dance party afterwards!
(Even if you don’t stay for the dance, please feel free to
help Out North further by doubling the price of your ticket.)

Here’s how Out North describes this great program, written and performed by Out North’s award-winning artistic director, Scott Turner Schofield:

“Debutante Balls” is a theatrical stand-up comedy dance through the fascinating culture of the Southern Debutante Ball. Schofield’s wicked sense of self-aware humor and poetic sensibility guide us gently (or is that genteel-ly?) through the many ways he “came out” into Southern Society (as a lesbian, radical feminist, and finally, as a transgender man), poking fun at gender roles and sniffing the vapors of nostalgia gone-with-the-wind in these modern times. Applauded by Judith (Jack) Halberstam and the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity alike, this is a generous, insightful, not-to-be-missed solo show.

An excerpt can be viewed on YouTube.

Scott will also be presenting two performances of “Two Truths and a Lie” on November 26-27, proceeds of which will also benefit Out North.