Other Events
Arts Smart New York: A Friendraising Celebration
The Center for Arts Education hosted its first-ever Arts Smart New York, A Friendraising Celebration on Thursday, September 27, 2007, at The Herman Miller Design National Design Center in Manhattan. This inaugural event brought together key decision makers to promote awareness about the benefits of and need for more arts education in NYC public schools.
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| Leonard Lopate and Laura Bell Bundy |
Arts Smart New York was hosted by WNYC’s Leonard Lopate, and Legally Blonde star Laura Bell Bundy made a special appearance before her curtain to show her support for arts education. In addition, CAE honored New York City Council Members Robert Jackson and Domenic Recchia as its first ever Arts Smart Friends, recognizing their long standing and continued support for arts education in New York City public schools.
“The fight for arts education has only just begun,” said Councilman Domenic Recchia. “Every one of our City’s public school students deserves access to a quality education that includes the arts, and we must do everything we can to keep this issue at the forefront of education policy,” he said.
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| Richard Kessler, Robert Jackson, Jody Arnhold, Laurie Tisch, and Domenic Recchia |
After accepting his honor, Councilman Jackson said, “Arts education is a basic and necessary part of a quality, well rounded education, and all New York City public school students deserve to have access to it.” “The Center for Arts Education is leading the charge to restore arts education in New York City public schools, and events such as these are integral in bringing people together who can help make a difference,” he concluded.
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| Bruce Silverstein |
Bruce Silverstein, owner of Silverstein Photography and one of CAE’s most active Board Members, was chosen as a special guest speaker for the event. With a son in New York City public schools and a successful gallery in New York City’s elite Chelsea gallery district, Silverstein pointed out that the fine art community needs to recognize the important connection between arts education and the Creative Industries. “New York City has a $21 billion dollar arts industry, and yet there are still schools that have no arts programs at all. If anyone believes in the importance of and need for arts education, it should be representatives from the fine arts industry,” Silverstein said.
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| Antonio Thompson and Robert Jackson |
Alumni from CAE’s Career Development Program (CDP) introduced the honorary New York City Council Members and shared their experiences with developing a career in New York City’s Creative Industries. Antonio Thompson, graduate of the program, studied with Wynton Marsalis during his internship. “It was an amazing experience. Working with Mr. Marsalis made me realize that I can pursue music as a career, and beyond playing music, CDP taught me how many other careers there are available to me in the creative industries,” he told listeners.
To read the complete press release, click HERE.
