The Chords of Color for a Cause program approaches cancer in a different way.
Instead of raising money, Chords of Color raises awareness by highlighting artists who have been affected by cancer in some way.
"Our focus is more on education and spreading awareness," said Amy Douglas, director of marketing for UF Performing Arts.
Chords of Color features four main events. Each event includes an educational panel called a Lunchtime Discussion.
During these panels, artists can share their experiences with cancer with an audience.
"The artists tend to talk about how the arts impact healing and taking care of your emotional self," she said. "It's a learning experience."
The next event happens tonight at the Squitieri Studio Theatre and will feature a screening of John Kaplan's "Not as I Pictured" documentary. Kaplan is a Pulitzer-Prize-winning photographer and professor in UF's College of Journalism and Communications.
Douglas said the purpose of this program from the beginning was to raise awareness, not funds. Profits from the events fold back into the Chords of Color program to help bring in future artists and cover technical expenses.
"Our goal was always to raise awareness but also to shed light on the impact the arts can have on the healing process," she added in an email.
Lindy Brounley, communications director for the UF Shands Cancer Center, said UF & Shands does not receive any of the profits from the Chords of Color festival either.
"The value of it for us is speaking about cancer," Brounley said
She said that because UF & Shands is a nonprofit medical institution, it stresses getting information out to the public on cancer control and healthy lifestyles.
"Conducting educational outreach is a big part of our mission," she said in her email.
As a result, doctors will be available as panelists during the events as well.
Dr. James W. Lynch Jr., Kaplan's lymphoma specialist at UF&Shands, will also speak to the audience.
According to Douglas, one in three people will be affected by cancer, whether directly or through a family member.
"As students, you're at the age where you feel invincible, but cancer affects everyone," she said. "There's nobody immune to being impacted by it."
"Not as I Pictured" will start at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free with reservation.
