THE NEW MUSEUM IS NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

The New Museum opened the doors of its new building on the Bowery on December 1 with an exhibition titled Unmonumental: The Object in the 21st Century. The new seven-story building was designed by Tokyo-based architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa/SANAA. It features three floors of skylighted galleries, a theater, an education center and a top-floor event space. For more information, visit www.newmuseum.org.

ELDRIDGE STREET SYNAGOGUE REOPENS

Continuing the revitalization of cultural life on the Lower East Side, the Eldridge Street Synagogue reopened on December 2. After 20 years of restoration and $20 million in improvements, the 1887 landmark will now feature new exhibition spaces, guided tours and cultural and educational programs. For more information, visit www.eldridgestreet.org.

2007 MAYOR'S AWARDS FOR ARTS & CULTURE

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg presented the Mayor's Awards for Arts & Culture to seven individuals and organizations on November 14 at El Museo del Barrio. The recipients included director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Philippe de Montebello, founding principal of P.S. 315 Beverly Ffolkes-Bryant, the New York Fringe Festival, the Point Community Development Corporation, actress and author Anna Deavere Smith, Time Warner, Inc. and Staten Island-based early-English furniture collector George Way.

BRIO AWARDS DEADLINE: JANUARY 25

Friday, January 25 at 5 pm is the deadline for the submission of completed applications to the Bronx Council on the Arts for the 2008 Bronx Recognizes Its Own Award. Twenty-five grants of $3,000 each will be awarded to Bronx artists creating work in literary, media, performing and visual arts. Applications and guidelines are available online at www.bronxarts.org, BCA's main office and BCA's Writers' Center and BCA's Longwood Arts Gallery @ Hostos.

ARTSVOTE2008 LAUNCHES

The Americans for the Arts Action Fund has launched an initiative to secure new policy proposals in support of the arts and arts education in America from candidates during the 2008 presidential campaign. The Arts Action Fund is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. Their Web site will allow arts advocates to communicate directly with presidential campaigns on issues of cultural policy and it will provide information on arts-related proposals and economic data as well as campaign news. For more information, visit www.artsvote.org.

RESEARCH CENTER FOR ARTS AND CULTURE PUBLISHES STUDY ON AGING ARTISTS IN NYC

The Research Center for Arts and Culture at Columbia University's Teachers College has published a study on aging artists in New York City. Above Ground: Information on Artists III Special Focus NYC Aging Artists assesses the aging creative community through interviews and provides recommendations to support artists over the age of 62 living and working in New York City.

PEOPLE

Maggie Boepple has been appointed president of Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC). Previously she was Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of Transport for London and was New York City's chief lobbyist during the Koch administration.

Tim Cynova has been named executive director of High 5 Tickets to the Arts. Mr. Cynova comes to the position after serving as executive director of the Parsons Dance Company.

Judy Hussie-Taylor has been appointed executive director of Danspace Project, effective January 2, 2008. Previously, she was the executive director of the Colorado Dance Festival.

NEWS AT THE ALLIANCE

WAGNER PARTY A GREAT SUCCESS

Right: Joan Davidson, Ashton Hawkins, Justin Rockefeller, Randall Bourscheidt and Christine C. Quinn, Speaker of the City Council

More than 300 guests joined us for a private preview of Christie's Latin American Art Sale, raising $45,000 for our arts advocacy programs, including the Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Fellowship for Public Policy and the Arts, now in its sixth year. We would like to thank Christie's, Gallo Family Vineyards, Jurlique, Ketel One Vodka, the New York Sun and NYCharities.org for their generous support. More pictures can be viewed on the Alliance Web site, www.allianceforarts.org, and at Patrick McMullan's Web site.