Although the Arete Living Arts Foundation was formally incorporated as a 5013c nonprofit organization in January of 2003, the roots of the organization date back to the early 1990's. The organization had it's beginning when artist Caeser Pink, feeling frustrated by the blandness of popular arts and culture, set out to create a hard hitting multimedia stage production. At the time Caeser Pink was completing film studies at Penn State University. To bring his vision into reality the artist brought together a wide coalition of local musicians, filmmakers, dancers, stage designers, choreographers, costume designers, writers, and poets. Having no money to fund the production, the artists all worked for free and paid costs out of their own pockets. The group worked feverishly for 6 months as the elements of the complex presentation were created and rehearsed. With no access to a traditional theater, the group debuted the production in a small nightclub. The reaction from the stunned audience was overwhelming. By the end of the performance the crowd was filled with a near riotous excitement. Quickly word spread about the production and by the 2nd performance reaction was divided into sharply polarized camps. On the one side a community of artists and activists came together to support the group and their message. On the other side was a storm of controversy that reacted against them by protesting performances, causing promotional flyers to be banned, and making complaints to newspapers and radio stations. In 1995 the core members of the organization moved to New York City. While still maintaining close to ties to their Pennsylvania based members, the organization began to expand both in membership and scope of activities. The group soon forged close relationship with artists both in the Harlem and Williamsburg areas of New York City. In addition to continued presentations of their ever-evolving group multimedia productions, the organization produced documentary films such as Politic America, Heart Beats Fire, and the Bottom Rung, and 12 half-hour episodes of an arts variety show that was broadcast on public stations across the US and Europe. Other projects included art exhibitions, poetry readings, political debate forums, street theater, websites, classical music recitals, fashion shows and music recordings.