By Kevin Aldridge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Arts Consortium of Cincinnati said Thursday that it would go ahead with a downtown breakfast honoring the memory of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., despite a request from his son to cancel it.

Sharon Hardin, executive director of the arts consortium, said the decision to go forward with the Martin Luther King Jr. Dreamkeepers Award Breakfast on Jan. 20 was not easily reached. The arts consortium board ultimately decided it could not risk losing the organization's biggest fund-raiser, she said.

"This is a hard thing for us because we basically need this money to continue to operate, especially in light of funding cuts from the city and private donors," Ms. Hardin said. "We could not afford to cancel this event without losing those funds. It could seriously cripple the organization."

Martin Luther King III, president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, wrote a letter to the arts consortium in November requesting that it "use every possible means to prevent such a planned event." Mr. King said to hold an event that violates the nonviolent boycott against Cincinnati would defile his father's dream.

Ms. Hardin spent Thursday morning crafting a response to Mr. King that explains the arts consortium's position. The arts consortium's letter was not immediately made available.

Juleana Frierson, chief of staff for the Cincinnati Black United Front, said holding the event against the King family's wishes smacks of hypocrisy. The Black United Front was one of two boycott groups who contacted Mr. King about the breakfast.

"When you are violating the wishes of his family, the whole symbolic nature of the thing has to be questioned," Ms. Frierson said. "This is an opportunity for those who say they would have followed King to actually do the work of King."

The Arts Consortium of Cincinnati, founded in 1972, is the city's premier center for African-American art and culture. The arts group in the West End offers classes, exhibitions and outreach programs for emerging and professional artist to showcase their talent.

The arts consortium operates on an annual budget of about $400,000 - 65 percent of which comes from the city. City Hall cutbacks have trimmed about $30,000 from its budget this year, which is roughly the same amount of money generated by the King breakfast.

Ms. Hardin said the consortium has been actively searching for other revenue streams so that the organization would not so dependent on the city for future funding.

The breakfast traditionally kicks off the city's yearly King Day celebration, which includes a march through downtown, and a program and speeches at Music Hall. Ms. Hardin said she prays that this situation has not tarnished the spirit of the 13-year-old event.

"I've been surprised at the number of calls I've receive supporting the event," Ms. Hardin said noting that last year's breakfast drew about 900 guests. "People are understanding that we are in a hard predicament.

"What we are trying to do is unite the community. We don't want to divide it."

E-mail kaldridge@enquirer.com