Lancaster, Pa. – The Creative House of Lancaster is pleased to announce Lancaster for Haiti – Hearts in Harmony, an innovative musical and interactive event April 2 at 7 p.m. in Freedom Hall at the Lancaster County Convention Center and Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square.

All proceeds will go to the Mennonite Central Committee of Lancaster’s Haiti earthquake relief efforts. Prior to the earthquake, MCC had been working in Haiti since 1958 in reforestation and environmental education, human rights, and advocacy for food security.

“We’re working together to harness CHL’s mission and spirit of creativity, collaboration, and mutual support,” said CHL executive director Anne Kirby, “to hold a truly exciting event. We want to let Haiti know that Lancaster, and hopefully all of America, has not forgotten their ongoing and extreme circumstances.

“It’s such an honor to partner with MCC and support their crucial work in Haiti, of which Lancaster is so very proud,” said Kirby. “And the support from all of our local partners has been generous beyond anything we ever imagined.  We strongly encourage residents of Lancaster and throughout the Central Pennsylvania region to attend and support this unique event in Lancaster’s spacious new convention center hotel facility –  it’s such an important cause and will be such a unique musical and interactive experience.”

Event content and schedule

Lancaster for Haiti will begin at 7 p.m. with live performance by Heads Up, a Lancaster-based urban arts organization that uses artist mentors to release vision in the lives of youth through urban arts programs.

A concert featuring an exciting line-up of bands arranged in partnership with WXPN will begin at 7:45 p.m. (see below for lineup).

This progressive event will also offer creative and new-media elements including live painting, live Twitter stream projection using the hashtag #L4Haiti, and live audiovisual streaming of the event by Creatively Wired. Streaming coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m. will consist of interviews with the bands and live coverage of the performances.

Ticket sales

Tickets go on sale next week at various locations around Lancaster and will be available at the door, with a base price of $10 and suggested donation of $20. Attendees must be 18 years of age or older (and at least 21 to obtain alcoholic beverages).

Lineup of bands

• Slimfit – http://www.slimfitband.com
• The Mint – http://www.myspace.com/themintonline
• The Swimmers – http://www.theswimmers.com/
• Ben Roth Band – http://www.myspace.com/benrothrock
• Movies with Heroes – http://www.myspace.com/movieswithheroes
• Steven Courtney and Band of Friends – http://www.stevencourtney.com
• Josh Albright Band – http://www.myspace.com/jalbrightmusic

Sponsors and Partners:

• Illusion Sound and Lighting
• Atomic Design
• Lancaster Arts
• Lancaster County Convention Center and Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square
• WXPN
• Tony Kirchner Productions
• Inkling Media
• Laura Duran & Associates LLC
• Matthew Lester Photography
• Studio K
• Creatively Wired
• Brendee’s Irish Pub
• Executive Printing
• Move to Iceland

About Creative House of Lancaster

The Creative House of Lancaster (CHL) advocates the success of Lancaster County Small Businesses and individuals interested in art, music, and design by committing its members to supporting each other in their business, personal and professional development and growth. The organization believes in taking creative and innovative leaps that redefine the local business community by harvesting local talent and promoting collaboration, fair-trade, teamwork, networking, mentoring, social communication, and nurturing a sense of community. CHL gatherings allow for creative individuals to gather, collaborate, refer, inspire, mentor, and challenge each other personally and professionally. Monthly meetings and events throughout the year. See www.thechl.org for more information or contact Anne Kirby at 717 572 4798.

About the Lancaster County Convention Center and Lancaster Marriott at Penn Square

Anchoring Downtown Lancaster and boldly incorporating the 110-year-old Beaux Arts façade of the historic former Watt & Shand department store, the integrated convention center / hotel facility offers a combined 90,000 square feet of meeting space and the latest technology for conventions, events, and trade shows.  A unique world-class facility set in a smaller, less expensive urban destination, the venue is centrally-located to the metropolitan areas of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and New York.  The new facility offers space for groups up to 5,000 and includes a convention and exhibition hall, two grand ballrooms, and several finely-appointed meeting and board rooms. To book an event at the integrated facility, call Josh Nowak at 717-207-4044. For more information, visit www.lancasterconventioncenter.com and www.marriottlancaster.com.