Significant changes and enhancements to the upcoming ImaginAide Gala and Art Auction for 2009 benefiting Detroit’s Coalition On Temporary Shelter (COTS). The new theme “Artists Against Homelessness” will serve to call attention to COTS mission to alleviate homelessness.

In an effort to obtain the highest quality artwork, the ImaginAide art committee has decided on a juried selection process, and has secured the expertise of Marsha Miro, journalist and documentary filmmaker, to guide the process.  Miro has also served the Cranbrook Educational Community as a historian of architecture and is a renowned authority on the creative arts.

The event will take place on April 25th, 2009 at the new Motor City Casino Hotel in downtown Detroit ”but the call for art must go out now.” says Lynn Wilhelm, Chief Development Officer for COTS.  Wilhelm asks that interested artists call her at 313-576-0206 with questions about benefits and participation.  The deadline for submissions is Friday, November 14th, 2008. Additional information and artists’ submission forms may be found at http://www.cotsdetroit.org.

“Last year we raised over $125,000 and our goal is to raise the bar,“ remarked Wilhelm.  “We feel strongly about presenting quality pieces, and this new approach should assure that we offer our patrons the best available,” she continued.

Founded in 1982, the Coalition On Temporary Shelter (COTS) is a private, non-profit organization that provides emergency shelter, transitional and permanent housing and comprehensive support services for Detroit’s homeless population.  Its mission is to alleviate homelessness by offering an array of services, which enable people to achieve economic self-sufficiency and decent, affordable housing.  COTS 140-bed shelter provides nearly 50,000 nights of emergency shelter each year.