MISSION STATEMENT

American Distractions is a vehicle to make art happen. It was established from a firm belief that art makes the world a better place and that motives other than profit create the finest examples of artistic expression. AD is available to artists as a vital resource and to the public as a source of entertainment and education.

American Distractions is committed to the following principles:

• Serving the community at large through support of the cultural arts. Film, theater, and the performing arts constitute modern forms of storytelling and such productions are important alternatives to their commercial counterparts in that they stand on the cutting edge of human expression. They are perhaps the most intimate of art forms, and they help us define and understand our own existence.

• Supporting those artists who show talent and dedication to their craft. AD will support dedicated artists by creating venues and opportunities for them to perform and display their work in a professional environment. The organization will strive to enhance the existing artistic community by establishing a network of support through collaboration and communication. AD will assist in the promotion of artists in an effort to help them reach broader audiences and make their voices heard.

• Leading by example by producing quality works. Art is meant to inspire. By producing high-quality works in-house, AD adds its own contribution to the cultural arts scene. It provides a model for other artists and gives the public educational and thought-provoking entertainment.

HISTORY

American Distractions was formed in 2000 with the realization that one couldn't throw a rock in Greensboro without hitting an artist. The original founders recognized that many of these artists actually had talent in their various fields and yet none of them could seem to make the transition into professional. Often artists would compete with each other unnecessarily because they would inadvertently schedule events on the same nights and thus limit their audiences. Lack of communication among artists meant that lots of people were looking for something to do and hadn't heard what was going on.

The young men of AD sought to change that.

The original AD-ers predicted that by banding together under a common name, their combined efforts could go much farther. They could reach bigger audiences. They could collaborate and critique each other to the benefit of their work. They could also divide and share the legwork of publicizing and producing their events. They wanted this new collective to reflect a broader sense of ideals, an American sense of ideals, encompassing freedom of speech and pursuit of happiness. Only in America could a group such as this pursue such an impossible scheme. The AD-ers wanted to see quality art realized, but they were sick of the pretensions of those artists who had gone before them and looked down on their audiences. They realized that art, though vital to their lives, was just a distraction amidst a landscape of American pastimes.

And there it was: American Distractions. Cue angelic choir.

IN THE BEGINNING...

The original Distractions were film, theater, visual art, music, and literature. At AD's core were nine members, impassioned yet inexperienced. They had big ideas and lots of them: music nights at Greensboro's The Exchange; an independent theater production of short plays at The Broach Theatre, in which they collaborated with The Royal Upstarts Ensemble; art prints and cards that would be high-quality yet affordable; and a poetry chapbook competition that would aid emerging writers.

This group knew that the biggest challenge to every artist is money. They hated to see great Greensboro bands fall by the wayside because they always played free shows. They were tired of watching actors move to New York and end up waiting tables. The members formed a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in 2002 with the hopes of creating an "art-business," a company that could offer great events, books, artwork, and CD's at low prices.

Then The University of Hard Knocks stepped in. The group went through a crash-course in production, accounting, marketing, and everything in between. They learned from the ground up what it takes to make art happen, and were amazed by how much that actually is.

THE DARK AGE

This was a time of great strife. Commitments were tested and the members were taken to the breaking point. The LLC was dissolved and it seemed all might be lost. It was about that time that those who remained realized that a shift in focus was due. Since art is a reflection of society's culture, the AD-ers needed to bring it back to the community. The scope was slightly narrowed to concentrate on film, theater, and performance. A new management was designed, with three Directors at the core of decision-making, rather than nine members. The group incorporated as a not-for-profit in 2003.

A NEW VISION

The new American Distractions has now taken an educational and charitable approach to its support of the arts. The resident filmmakers of AD are now producing thought-provoking documentary films that are educational as well as entertaining.

AD is a vehicle to support an artistic community. The AD-ers are interested quality works coming from dedicated artists, and doing everything in their power to ensure their success. There will be events such as The Greensboro Fringe Festival in which playwrights, actors, and directors can showcase their talents. There will be film screenings, music festivals, and all sorts of other events that make life really swell.

AD now offers an online Community Calendar available to anybody to post dates of artistic events and happenings, and also for those looking for something interesting to do. The Galleria is an online venue for film/video, visual art, and music, serving as a creative portfolio for artists and a way to acquire non-commercial art for those with a taste for something new.

Our talents and experience are here for everyone. We encourage collaboration with serious artists who show talent in their fields, and we invite audiences to come peruse the American Distractions.