Solstice concert organizers pledge donations to Anchorage’s lead homelessness nonprofit

This story originally appeared on Alaska Public Media and is republished here with permission.

The organizers of an Anchorage music festival that inadvertently led the city to displace homeless campers earlier in June have pledged to donate to the city’s lead homelessness nonprofit.

The concert organizers planned and got permits back in the fall to hold the three-day Sundown Solstice Festival in Cuddy Family Midtown Park. In the spring, the city shut down its winter homeless shelters, sending hundreds of people into the streets, vacant lots and parks — including the concert venue.

City officials made a controversial decision to clear the encampments in and around the park ahead of the festival due to safety concerns about how concertgoers and campers might interact.

Hellen Fleming, part owner of concert production business Showdown Alaska, said the situation led her to learn more about the outreach work that goes on in unofficial campgrounds around the city, and to donate to the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness.

Showdown Alaska is holding online auctions for murals painted during the festival. It’s pledging half of the winning bids to the coalition, and the other half to the artists. Fleming said 30% of the sale price of leftover festival merchandise will also be donated to the coalition.