Seven years after losing his
father, DC Pratt has plans in store to remind the local community what it’s
gained from Chan Pratt’s artistry.
Determined to preserve his
father’s legacy, Pratt has developed the Chan Pratt Foundation in hopes that his
late father’s contribution to the Bahamian art movement will serve as
inspiration for future and up-and-coming generations.
Part of his motivation for doing
so comes from Pratt’s own experiences. He was pursuing a college education
abroad when his father passed away and he encountered financial difficulties.
“With him being the bread winner
and then passing away, after a while, it wasn’t financially possible for me to
continue studying. I went back to school, and for my first year and a half my
mother was financing it, but that couldn’t continue to happen, so I had to come
back home,” recalled Pratt.
Now a professional Muay Thai
fighter, he has found his niche and – like his father – has made a name for
himself locally and internationally.
Understanding first-hand the
importance of financial support for university students, Pratt hopes the Chan
Pratt Foundation will alleviate some of the burdens students face during their
studies. In addition to scholarships, local mentorship and education programs
will be core components of the foundation. He hopes, too, to be able to afford
developing Bahamian artists the opportunity to visit international creative
arenas, museums and galleries. Within its first few years, the philanthropist
anticipates stretching the foundation’s benefits to the U.S. to facilitate its
anticipated exchange program.
“I want to foster an environment
for these young artists to be able to flourish and to be able to inspire one
another and to be able to see where they can go, even if they don’t have a
college education or the means for a college education,” he explained.
He established the Chan Pratt
Foundation in 2013 and has since been working on gaining support and developing
his plans for the organization. Now looking forward to the foundation’s
official launch, Pratt is welcoming the public’s participation at the
foundation’s first fundraiser.
The event will be hosted at Sapodilla
Estates, from 7 – 10 p.m. on Saturday, October 17. The evening’s main highlight
will be a mixed-media exhibition featuring the works of multi-disciplinary
artists responding to Chan Pratt’s inspiring legacy; on display and up for sale
will be pieces by both emerging artists and legendary names. Twenty-five
percent of the proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Chan Pratt
Foundation to help kickstart its mission.
Noted muralist Allan Wallace and “Celebrity Artist” Jamaal
Rolle will also entertain by producing a live piece to be auctioned at the end
of the night.
“I want this to provide a
platform for up-and-coming artists where they can shine alongside the people
who have already made names for themselves,” explained Pratt.
Tickets to support the event are
now on sale for $100 apiece, and can be purchased from the NAGB’s Mixed Media
Gift Shop until October 4. Tickets are also available at Damianos
Sotheby’s on Shirley Street and at Lyford Cay through October 16. For more
information on supporting the Chan Pratt Foundation, contact the foundation at info@chanprattfoundation.org or
call (242)544-4779.
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