July
16, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
African
Conservancy opens online marketplace and art gallery to benefit wildlife
and cultures in Africa
Non-profit organization leverages
the Internet to generate revenue and provides a channel to market for
African artists and craftsmen
The African Conservancy, San Diego's only membership
organization dedicated to the preservation of African wildlife and traditional
cultures, today announced it has opened an online marketplace and art
gallery to support socioeconomic development, wildlife protection and
education programs in Africa.
"As a non-profit organization, it's essential for us to identify cost-effective
ways to generate additional revenue," said Corinne Waldenmayer, president
and executive director of the African Conservancy. "The marketplace and
gallery enable us to expand our global reach while educating the general
public about art, customs and traditional culture in Africa."
The marketplace (http://www.africanconservancy.org/member/marketplace.html)
offers travel clothing, books, CDs and videos and branded African Conservancy
merchandise. The organization earns commission from goods sold through
affiliate programs, and all profits are channeled back into projects taking
place on the ground in Africa.
The online art gallery (http://www.africanconservancy.org/member/gallery.html)
provides a source of revenue for individual and cooperative artists and
craftsmen working in Africa. Items displayed in the gallery include African
sculpture, paintings, drawings, decorative art and prints. In addition,
the gallery serves as an educational forum for those interested in learning
about African art and culture. Quarterly exhibits focus on diverse topics,
such as the recent "Power Figures from Central Africa."
"Providing artists with a channel to market and a more stable source of
income allows the African Conservancy to further its mission of increasing
awareness and preserving traditional art and culture for future generations
to experience," said Waldenmayer.
ENDS
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