The Alliance for the Arts today announced a major initiative increasing access to the arts and arts education. The Alliance has launched the new and unique NYC-ARTS.org - a 2009 Webby Award Honoree-and its teacher and family-friendly companion NYCkidsARTS.org that provide an insider's take on the hundreds of gems that make up New York's vibrant cultural life.
Alliance President Randall Bourscheidt said: "The national spotlight on the arts and arts education is in perfect alignment with the launch of NYC-ARTS.org and NYCkidsARTS.org. The new initiative expands access to New York cultural organizations to all residents and visitors by providing the most comprehensive cultural information available in a fun and easy-to-use format."
The City of New York has made a capital investment of $1.5 million in NYC ARTS. Alliance for the Arts would like to especially thank the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and the NYC Council for their support. Kate D. Levin, Commissioner, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, said: "NYC ARTS is another important way of connecting our City's arts organizations with their core audiences, and as importantly, with potential new visitors. NYCkidsARTS will extend this work to students and families, linking them with the 400 arts organizations currently working in our public schools, as well as the hundreds more that offer performances, exhibitions, talks and tours in neighborhoods across the five boroughs."
The flagship NYC-ARTS.org site provides comprehensive information on nearly 800 cultural organizations and their events, programs and activities. In-depth entries feature discounts, volunteer and donation information, interactive maps of what's nearby, similar things to do and much more.
For families and educators, NYCkidsARTS.org, tailors information on cultural activities for children, including arts education programs that support teaching in many subject areas. The Alliance is pleased to announce that MetLife Foundation has joined as NYCkidsARTS.org's launch sponsor and primary site sponsor. "MetLife Foundation is proud to provide leadership support for NYCkidsARTS," said Dennis White, President and CEO, MetLife Foundation. "The arts play a very special role in the lives of children and young people and are a critical component of a complete education. NYCkidsARTS.org provides a wealth of information on the many educational experiences available at museums, performing arts centers, libraries and other cultural destinations throughout the five boroughs of New York City."
As part of the launch of NYCkidsARTS.org, the Alliance for the Arts has partnered with the New York City Department of Education to promote its annual Family Reunion Day on June 27. "Family engagement involves awareness of all the cultural events New York City is offering," said Martine Guerrier, Chief Family Engagement Officer, New York City Department of Education. "We are proud to partner with NYCkidsARTS.org and hope our families enjoy this initiative." The two organizations will continue to work together to ensure NYCkidsARTS.org gives parents and teachers tools to engage their kids in the arts.
The power of the NYC ARTS sites extends beyond the walls of the Web sites with weekly e-mail updates, interest-specific RSS feeds and connections to social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo and Twitter.
In celebration of the launch of NYC-ARTS.org and NYCkidsARTS.org, Gavin Creel, the Tony-nominated star of Hair on Broadway, appears as a guest editor. "As someone who has committed his career to the arts, I'm thrilled that NYC ARTS exists," says Creel. "There's nothing else online that provides access to art in New York in quite this way." Creel's choices appear in the Things to Do section of the sites, along with other suggested compilations of offerings, including Free Attractions in New York and a feature about the Hudson-Fulton-Champlain Quadricentennial.
Also supporting the Alliance for the Arts' mission of breaking down barriers of access to the arts, Destination Chelsea, a coalition of 22 Chelsea-based cultural institutions, is offering special discounts - click here for info. Visitors to NYC-ARTS.org will find special offers for organizations including The Joyce Theater, Chelsea Opera and Lotus Music & Dance. The sites also include hundreds of other discounts and special offers.
