MAJIC

MAJIC (Musical Arts for Justice in the Community) is on its fifth season of concert and art showing that began by founder/director Carmen Maret in 2007 to support high quality arts programming in West Michigan that at the same time helps the poor and homeless in the community.  MAJIC is a ministry of Bethlehem Church that underwrites all of its concerts in advance and then contributes 100% of the at-the-door donations to local justice oriented organizations.

The MAJIC Concert Series showcases music written and/or performed by local and regional musicians for a listening audience. The series is an excellent way for people who are interested in cultural enrichment to attend live music and at the same time help others in their community. MAJIC’s programming draws a diverse audience through varied programming of  classical, jazz, and world music.

Free-will donations of $10 per person is suggested at the concerts. The 2011-2012 season donations go to the Heartside Fund and Heartside Music Together, both organizations that work to help the poor and homeless in Grand Rapids.

The Heartside Fund, which is held in trust by the Heart of West Michigan United Way, assists agencies and ministries in the neighborhood to provide emergency needs such as prescription co-payments or bus passes to allow a neighbor to get to a new job until their first paycheck arrives.  Heartside Music Together, is an early childhood music program that provides scholarships to low income families to participate in music classes with their children in the Heartside neighborhood.

From its previous four seasons, MAJIC gave $20,231 in concert donations to the Heartside Fund, Heartside Music Together and the Grand Rapids Coalition to End Homelessness.

Performances take place once a month on Fridays in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Sanctuary located at 250 Commerce 49503 in downtown Grand Rapids.  The music at the concerts start at 7pm. A “meet the artists” reception follows.