The Central District Forum for Arts & Ideas recently kicked off their 2011 season with Lenelle Moise: Expatriate, which ran February 10-12. The next event in their lineup is will be an evening with Dolen Perkins-Valdez, author of Wench, a New York Times Bestseller which has recently been released in paperback.  The event is being co-sponsored by Elliott Bay Book Company, and will begin at 7:00 pm tonight, February 28, at the Northwest African American Museum. Tickets are $10 at the door, $8 in advance, and $5 for students, and are available for purchase online at Brown Paper Tickets. 

CD Forum’s next event will be a FREE viewing of Prince Among Slaves: The Cultural Legacy of Enslaved Africans. This viewing will be on Thursday, March 3 at 7:00 pm at Seattle University’s Piggot Hall at 901 12th Avenue.  This documentary film is narrated by rapper and actor Mos Def and explores the history of African Muslims enslaved on this continent as early as the 17th century. Though the viewing of this film is free, please RSVP for the event.

CD Forum is a non-profit that collaborates with local arts and performance venues to bring artists of all medias to Seattle.  The entity exists to bring art to the people, particularly the diverse population of the Central District.  Blair Brown, Marketing Coordinator for CD Forum said the organization relies on patrons, donations, and grants for its small operating budget. 

Food As Art, CD Forum’s annual fundraising event, is being held April 16 at Bell Harbor. This event features delicacies created by some of Seattle’s most talented chefs.  There is a silent auction, dessert auction, and a feast of gourmet, local cuisine.  

To learn more about how you can support arts in the Central District, please visit Central District Forum for Arts & Idea’s website at www.cdforum.org.  You can also follow CD Forum on Twitter, and ‘Like’ them on Facebook.