Alliance for the Arts Initiative Enhances Access to New York's Vibrant Arts Scene.

Tony-nominated Gavin Creel of "HAIR" Guest Editor of Webby-honoree Web guides NYC-ARTS.org and NYCkidsARTS.org

NEW YORK -- 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 at http://www.nyc-arts.org/collections/52/destination-chelsea. 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.

NYC ARTS is a public/private initiative. Major private sponsors include Lily Auchincloss Foundation, Bay and Paul Foundations, Bloomberg, Christie's, Consolidated Edison, Fifth Floor Foundation, Robert Lehman Foundation, Liman Foundation, Ogilvy New York, Rockefeller Brothers Fund and Starr Foundation.

Visionary early private funders of these services include American Express, founding sponsor of NYC ARTS; AT&T Foundation; Lily Auchincloss Foundation; AXA Foundation; Sanford C. Bernstein Foundation; Bloomberg; Booth Ferris Foundation; Citi Foundation, founding sponsor of NYCkidsARTS; Consolidated Edison; Robert Sterling Clark Foundation; Hazen Polsky Foundation; Intrepid Fund; JPMorgan Chase Foundation; Robert Lehman Foundation; Merrill Lynch; Margaret T. Morris Foundation; Liman Foundation; New York Community Trust; Rockefeller Brothers Fund; Joseph E. Seagram & Sons/Universal Studios; and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

Alliance for the Arts publications, including those online, are supported by the New York State Council on the Arts.

About the Alliance for the Arts

The Alliance for the Arts serves the entire cultural community through research and advocacy and serves the public through cultural guides and calendars. Through its NYC ARTS guides and calendars, the Alliance promotes New York cultural institutions. Through its research studies highlighting the importance of the arts to the economy and to education, the Alliance helps government and civic leaders understand the importance of cultural organizations to New York City. More information on the Alliance's work can be found at the new www.AllianceforArts.org.