SYMPHONY SPACE 2013 Spring Swing and Access to the Arts Awards Gala Will Honor Kerz Hirschfeld, Lewis B. Cullman and More

Each spring Symphony Space honors individuals and organizations who share its dedication to keeping the arts accessible to all New Yorkers. On April 15, Symphony Space will present the fourth annual Access to the Arts Awards to Steven M. Alden, Board Chairman from 2001-2012 in recognition of his devoted leadership of Symphony Space; philanthropists Louise Kerz Hirschfeld & Lewis B. Cullman, for their inspiring dedication to the arts and respective leadership of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation and the Lewis B. & Dorothy Cullman Foundation; and Luis Ubiñas, the President of the Ford Foundation, for his dynamic direction of the nation's second largest foundation. Symphony Space will also bestow the Access to the Arts Award to Isaiah Sheffer, its Founding Artistic Director, who passed away in November 2012.

Co-chaired by Amy Wilson and David Flannery, and BD Wong, the 2013 Spring Swing Gala will be held at Capitale, located at 130 Bowery on the Lower East Side. The evening begins with cocktails and a silent auction at 6:30pm, followed by dinner and entertainment, and concludes with dancing, led by Jack & Hill Music.

The Spring Swing is hosted by actress Tamara Tunie (Law & Order: SVU, Flight) and singer Gregory Generet. Performers and presenters include Eisa Davis (Passing Strange), Melissa Errico (Passion, My Fair Lady), Sonia Manzano (Sesame Street), S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order, Lackawanna Blues) James Naughton (Chicago), Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek), documentarians D.A. Pennebaker & Chris Hegedus (The War Room), singer Dan Zanes, and Commissioner Kate D. Levin from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Additional performers and presenters will be announced closer to the event.

The annual Symphony Space Gala attracts arts patrons, industry leaders, and artists from the many disciplines that make up Symphony Space's unique cultural landscape. A limited number of tables ($7,500/15,000/25,000) and individual tickets ($750/1500) are still available. To purchase, please contact Mac Ingram at (212) 864-1414 x229 or symphonyspacegala@gmail.com.

For the past 35 years, Symphony Space has produced and presented artistically and culturally diverse music, literary, family, comedy, and film programs that bring artists and audiences together in an atmosphere of exploration and intimacy. Its signature events include Selected Shorts, presented live and nationally broadcast on public radio; Just Kidding! family concerts; Bloomsday on Broadway; and Wall to Wall, an annual 12-hour immersive marathon event free to the public.

Symphony Space's Artistic Director is Laura Kaminsky and the President & CEO is Cynthia Elliott.