The Inaugural Art Beyond The Glass NYC Raised Over $10,000 For Sokoloff Arts

Art Beyond the Glass, the multi-city fundraising event series showcasing the cocktails and artistic pursuits of top local bartenders, held their inaugural New York City event at Town Stages on Sunday, January 20, 2019.

ABTG co-founder Daniel Djang said, "We've wanted to bring Art Beyond the Glass to New York for years, and the inaugural ABTG NYC exceeded my wildest expectations. Many thanks to everyone at Town Stages for making the inaugural ABTG NYC such a success!"

Including the ABTG NYC donation, Art Beyond the Glass has donated more than $171,000 to arts nonprofits across the country since its inception, made possible by thousands of dollars in in-kind donations, silent auction and raffle items. With its flagship event in June and upcoming events in Oklahoma City and the Bay Area, ABTG is expected to cross the $200,000 fundraising total by the end of the year.

Filmmaker Megan Rainwater of Butter & Scotch, singer Franky Marshall most recently of Le Boudoir, and painter Luis Hernandez most recently of Seamstress and Gibson & Luce headlined the collection of bartenders displaying their artistic talents at the event which also raised money for Sokoloff Arts, a women-led cultural institution creating inspired space and cutting edge experiences at Town Stages. Other performers included Connor Sampson (live poet), DJ TRX (DJ), Claudia Ramirez (pianist), Nathan McClain (poet), Sammi Katz and Company (new play reading), Jordan Diggory (singer/guitarist), Josh Cameron (singer/guitarist), Matt Friedlander (singer/guitarist), Jena Ellenwood (short film screening), Damon Boelte (singer/guitarist), Bridget Bose and Company (dance), Benoit Cornet (painter), Amanda Elder (graphic designer), Greg Buda ("Faces of Mezcal" photographer), and Christopher Mori (painter).

Proceeds from the day benefited Sokoloff Arts, a women-led cultural institution creating inspired space and cutting edge experiences at Town Stages that sponsors a unique Fellowship Program for artists, entrepreneurs, writers, content creators, movers, shakers, and makers of all kinds. Many 2019 Fellows were in attendance that day.

ABTG NYC was made possible with the generous support of industry sponsors: Brugal 1888, Bushmills Irish Whiskey, Fords Gin, Amass Gin, Back Bar Project, Brenne Whisky, Brooklyn Gin, Campari, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, Diplomático Rum, Empress 1908 Gin, Novo Fogo Cachaca, Q Mixers, and Winship's Bitters. Catering was provided by Comparti New York.

About Sokoloff Arts (501c3) at Town Stages

Sokoloff Arts (501c3) is a women-led cultural institution creating inspired space and cutting edge experiences at Town Stages. Helmed by a team of women from different backgrounds and multi-hyphenate artistic disciplines, Sokoloff Arts builds viable and safe places to congregate, strives to promote cross-cultural community activations, and blends the arts and business sectors to design sustainable solutions to social and financial inequalities in New York City and abroad. The organization assists young creators with mentorship, sponsorship, and fellowship by supporting ticketed performances and curated community programming in the performing arts, fine arts, and the advancement of social justice.

For more information, visit https://townstages.com/non-profit.

What is Art Beyond the Glass?

Founded in November 2011 in Los Angeles by Courvoisier National Brand ambassador Zahra Bates and Daniel Djang (founder of Thirsty in LA, editor at Discover Los Angeles), Art Beyond the Glass (ABTG) was called "the Party of the Year" by Los Angeles Magazine, and has grown into a premier event celebrating art, cocktail culture, and the talented bartenders at the heart of both. Oklahoma City, Chicago, and most recently Oakland have also hosted ABTG events, with Las Vegas, Miami and Louisville named as future host cities. At ABTG, everything from the cocktails to the art and music is created and performed by bartenders.

Town Stages, a 10,000 square-foot state-of-the-art cultural arts space, event venue, and cocktail bar in the heart of downtown Tribeca, will host Art Beyond the Glass New York. ABTG is taking over every room in the stunning storefront facility. The event will feature artwork created by local bartenders as well as live performances, a silent auction, raffle and much more.

Art Beyond the Glass Philanthropy

Every Art Beyond the Glass event benefits a local arts-based charity. Since its inception, ABTG has donated over $171,000 to arts nonprofits across the country.

Art Beyond the Glass (ABTG) is an event series that showcases the artistic pursuits of top bartenders when they're not behind the stick. ABTG began, as many things do, with a conversation in a bar. In the fall of 2011, bartender Zahra Bates and writer Daniel Djang were at Sunny Spot in Venice, CA discussing how so many bartenders in Los Angeles express themselves creatively through painting, photography, music, and other arts. But at the time there wasn't a proper showcase for bartenders to share their artistic pursuits. To fill this gap, Art Beyond the Glass was born: uniting the bar community, which gives back to the art community, and strengthening the community in which we live.

At ABTG, everything from the cocktails to the art and music is created and performed by bartenders. Proceeds from every ABTG event are donated to a local arts-based charity. To date, Art Beyond the Glass has donated more than $171,000 to nonprofit organizations across the country. For more information,visit www.ArtBeyondtheGlass.com. Follow on Instagram @ABTGHQ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ArtBeyondTheGlass

Town Stages (Robin Sokoloff, Executive Director) is a state-of-the-art cultural arts space, event venue, and cocktail bar in the heart of downtown Tribeca. With a stunning 10,000 square foot storefront property, Town Stages blends convention-level facilities with captivating decor for 299 guests. Serving as New York's premier venue to celebrate, collaborate, and put on a show, Town Stages offers much needed meeting space and production resources for businesses, arts organizations, and families celebrating their very important day. Centrally located off all major NYC trains, Town Stages is available for corporate gatherings, fashion shows, film shoots, weddings, & beyond. Follow under @townstages and #itsyourtown.

For more information, visit https://townstages.com.