DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS BUDGET INCREASES

With a midnight handshake on Tuesday, June 22, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Gifford Miller agreed to adopt the $47 billion budget for New York City, for Fiscal Year 2005 (effective July 1, 2004). The City Council voted to restore an additional $9.9 million ($8.7 million for Cultural Institutions and $1.2 million for Programs) to the Department of Cultural Affairs. This, coupled with an additional $9.9 million in City Council one-time additions, brings the Cultural Affairs budget to $123.6 million for FY 2005.

These additions represent a 4 percent increase over last year's budget of $118.7 million.

NOGUCHI MUSEUM RE-OPENS

The Noguchi Museum, one of the greatest gifts by an artist to the people of New York, re-opened to the public on Saturday, June 12. The renovation of the Noguchi Museum building began in October 2001. Great care was taken to maintain the original character of the building as envisioned by Noguchi himself. The visitor entrance to the museum is at 9-01 33rd Road and Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City. For directions and more information click here or call (718) 204-7088.

RENZO PIANO TO DESIGN WHITNEY MUSEUM EXPANSION

On June 15 the Whitney Museum of American Art announced that it has chosen the Italian architect Renzo Piano to design an expansion of its building on Madison Avenue between 75th and 74th Streets. The original building was designed by Marcel Breuer in 1966.

FORDHAM RADIO TOWER COMES DOWN

Montefiore Hospital and Fordham University have put forth a plan that will resolve a long-running conflict between the New York Botanical Garden and Fordham. According to the plan, a half-completed radio tower that has been broadcasting WFUV radio will be torn down. The tower is currently blocking views from the New York Botanical Garden. New transmitters will be erected on the roof of nearby Montefiore hospital to replace the tower.

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS SEMINAR JULY 13

The Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission will hold a seminar for managers and trustees of cultural organizations entitled Advancing Culture Through Management. It will explore the relationships between administrators and board members at nonprofit cultural organizations. The seminar will take place at the Time Warner Center and is open to any nonprofit cultural organization in New York City. For more information call (212) 643-2105.

PEOPLE

Nicolette Clarke, executive director of the New York State Council on the Arts, will depart in August.

Derek Gordon is the new executive director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, effective August 1. Mr. Gordon was formerly a senior vice president at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Tom Healy has been appointed president of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, effective July 1.

Richard Kessler is the new executive director of the Center for Arts Education, effective immediately. Mr. Kessler was formerly executive director of the American Music Center.

Jonathan Landman is the new culture editor at The New York Times, replacing Steven Erlanger.

David E. McKinney, president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will retire, effective January 2005.

Louise Mirrer is the new president and chief executive officer of the New-York Historical Society, effective immediately. Ms. Mirrer was formerly executive vice chancellor for academic affairs at the City University of New York and president of the CUNY Economic Development Corporation.

András Szántó has been appointed director of the National Arts Journalism Program at Columbia University, effective immediately. Mr. Szántó was formerly associate director of NAJP.

This column is an ongoing feature of the Alliance for the Arts Newsletter. Please submit suggestions to advocacynews@allianceforarts.org

PUBLIC ART ON VIEW THIS SUMMER

New York's parks, streets and public buildings have a wealth of permanent art and statuary as well as temporary exhibitions. The Parks Department keeps a list of public art currently on display in the city's parks here. The Department of Cultural Affairs maintains a list of works in its percent for art program here.

Meanwhile, there are several spectacular temporary exhibitions on display throughout the city this summer, including:

The Dreamland Artist Club
Organized by Creative Time
Through September 6

Dreamland is a partnership between local businesses and 27 emerging and established artists. The artists have repainted rides and created custom signs, murals and scenic backdrops for a range of Coney Island attractions. With few exceptions, the pieces comprising Dreamland have been created in the service of advertising for their host businesses, lending a new context to many of the artists whose works are usually viewed in galleries and museums.

City Hall Park
Roy Lichtenstein
Organized by Public Art Fund
Through October

Four large-scale sculptures are on display in City Hall Park.

For directions and more information click here.

Madison Square Park
Mark di Suvero
Madison Square Park Conservancy
Aesope's Fables
Beyond
Double Tetrahedron
Through September

Three monumental sculptures by Mark di Suvero will be on view in Madison Square Park through September.

Beyond, 2004. Mark di Suvero

Socrates Sculpture Park
Long Island City
Field: Science, Technology and Nature
Through August 1
Free

Field features 11 artists and examines the interaction of science and nature.

The Jolly Green Giant, 2004. Hope Ginsburg
Photo: Chris Baker 2004

PREVIEW OF THE GATES

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has an exhibit on Christo and Jeanne-Claude's grand project in Central Park, on view until July 25. The Gates--26 years in the planning--will be on view in Central Park in February.

The Gates, Project for Central Park, New York City 2002, Christo and Jeanne-Claude