IN THE NEWS

FEDERAL GRANTS FOR NYC ARTS INSTITUTIONS TOTAL $850,000+
Over $850,000 has been granted to New York City cultural organizations through the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. The Museum of the Moving Image, the Children's Museum of Manhattan, the Museum of Arts and Design, the Queens Museum of Art and the New York Botanical Garden each received grants of $150,000. The New York Transit Museum and the Staten Island Children's Museum also received grants of $101,407 and $21,850 respectively. For more information, click here.

PEOPLE

Jamie Bennett is the new chief of staff at the City's Department of Cultural Affairs. Mr. Bennett was previously chief of staff to the president of Columbia University, and also previously worked for the Agnes Gund Foundation.

Holly Block is the new director of the Bronx Museum of the Arts, beginning September 5, 2006. Ms. Block was previously director of Art in General.

Former State Senator Roy Goodman will serve as special advisor for the arts to the majority leader of the New York State Senate, effective immediately.

Gianni Jetzer is the new director at the Swiss Institute. Mr. Jetzer was previously the director of the Neue Kunst Halle St. Gallen.

Breda Kennedy is the new executive director at the d.u.m.b.o. arts center in Brooklyn. Ms. Kennedy was previously program director at ISCP.

Carla Peterson is the new artistic director of Dance Theater Workshop. Ms. Peterson was previously executive director of Movement Research.

Emily Socolov is the new executive director of Mano a Mano: Mexican Culture Without Borders, an initiative of the Center for Traditional Music & Dance. Ms. Socolov was previously in public relations at the Center for Traditional Music & Dance.

Charlotte St. Martin is the new executive director of the League of American Theatres and Producers. Ms. St. Martin was previously executive vice president of marketing and sales for Loews Hotels.

CALENDAR

SAVE THE DATE--FOURTH ANNUAL FRIENDS OF THE ARTS PARTY

Please join us on November 14th from 6:30-8:30 pm at Christie's Rockefeller Center for the Alliance's Friends of the Arts Party to benefit the Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Fellowship. For more information, click here.

NEW ARTS BUILDINGS EXHIBIT RUNS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 7
City of Culture, an exhibition organized by the Alliance for the Arts in cooperation with the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter will be on view at the Center for Architecture until September 7.

The exhibition is based on the Alliance's online gallery, ARTS BUILD NY, located at architecture.nyc-arts.org.

More than 50 cultural organizations are offered as case studies illustrating the influence of the arts industry and innovative architecture on the revitalization of institutions, neighborhoods and our city. For more information on the exhibit click here.

Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place (between Bleecker and West Third Streets)

AUGUST FESTIVALS
New York International Fringe Festival | AUG 11-27 The largest multi-arts festival in North America brings more than 200 companies and artists from around the globe to downtown Manhattan for 17 days of dance, theater and multimedia performances.

Battery Dance Company | 25th Annual Downtown Dance Festival AUG 21-27 The annual weeklong outdoor dance festival in Battery Park and Chase Plaza returns. FREE

Charlie Parker Jazz Festival | AUG 26-27 Now in its 14th season, the festival celebrates the life of the venerable jazzman and his contemporaries with a host of performances by some of the biggest names in jazz on Saturday at Marcus Garvey Park (Fifth Avenue and 122nd Street) and on Sunday at Tompkins Square Park (East Seventh Street and Avenue A).

CONTINUING
Central Park SummerStage | Through AUG 13 More than 30 free performances of pop, jazz, hip-hop and regional music, modern and traditional dance, literary and theatrical readings and family programs at the Rumsey Playfield (entrance near 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue).

Harlem Week | Through AUG 20 The festival celebrates its 31st anniversary with nearly a month of events, including a concert under the stars at Ulysses S. Grant National Memorial Park (West 122nd Street and Riverside Drive), a children's festival and a parade.

Dixon Place | HOT! Festival: NYC's Celebration Of Queer Culture And Performance Through AUG 26 A three-week performance extravaganza featuring puppetry, burlesque, music, dance and spoken word by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered artists.

Lincoln Center: Mostly Mozart Festival Through AUG 26 The popular summertime classical music festival returns under the baton of Louis Langrée and features 11 concerts of seven different programs.

Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors | Through AUG 27 More than 100 free outdoor performances of dance, music, chamber concerts and events for children are given in Damrosch Park (62nd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues). FREE

HERE Arts Center | American Living Room Festival Through AUG 30 The 17th annual emerging artist festival features work that examines the notion of progress in America.

Downtown NYC River to River Festival 2006 | Through Sept 30 The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Alliance for Downtown New York, South Street Seaport Marketplace and World Financial Center Arts & Events Program team up with the Battery Park City Authority, Battery Park City Parks Conservancy and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to present this festival of festivals. This year River to River includes unique special events such as as a culture parade, site specific art installations and live music at Castle Clinton; as well as the Evening Stars Music and Dance Festival SEPT 6-10, with free outdoor performances by leading dance companies and music ensembles.