DOWNTOWN CULTURE

On February 27th, ArtTable presented an open forum on "Defining the Cultural Precinct: A Conversation with Anita Contini and Kate Levin." Moderated by Leonard Lopate, Commissioner Levin and Ms. Contini, the Vice President and Director, Memorial, Cultural and Civic Programs of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, spoke about the need for culture to be part of the Downtown renewal.

TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

The Bronx Cultural Trolley expands its free service on the first Monday of every month, connecting the Hostos Gallery, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, Pregones Latino Theatre and the Blue Ox Bar. For more information, contact the Bronx Council on the Arts (718) 931-9500.

The Queens Art Link offers a free weekend shuttle service connecting P.S.1, MoMA/QNS, Socrates Sculpture Park, the American Museum of the Moving Image, the Museum of African Art and the temporary Isamu Noguchi Museum. Queens Art Link is coordinated by MoMA/QNS and funded by the City, the Robert Sterling Clark Foundation as well as participating institutions. For schedules and information, call (212) 708-9750 or go to www.moma.org/qal/.

NYC CULTURE RANKS IN TOP WORLD TEN

The Art Newspaper (Feb. 2003) reports that four of the ten contemporary art exhibits with the greatest attendance in the world last year took place in New York City museums. These were: "Gerhard Richter: Forty Years of Painting" at MoMA; "Jeff Koons: Easyfun--Ethereal" at the Guggenheim Museum; The 2002 Biennial at the Whitney Museum of American Art; and "Oldenburg and van Bruggen on the Roof" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Met's "Orazio and Artemisia Gentileschi: Father and Daughter Painters in Baroque Italy" was on the Old Masters Top Ten list.

PEOPLE

A new feature of the Alliance for the Arts Newsletter

Moves

Jenny Dixon becomes Director of the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum, effective April 1, leaving the Bronx Museum.

Paul Goldberg became Executive Director of the Snug Harbor Cultural Center on February 1.

Susan Jones became Director of the Museum of the City of New York on February 3, leaving the National Building Museum.

Arlene Shuler becomes President and CEO of City Center, effective June 1, leaving the Howard Gilman Foundation.

Julian Zugazagoitia became Director of El Museo del Barrio on November 18, leaving the Guggenheim Museum.

Appointments
Claudia Bonn becomes Executive Director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center in June.
Elizabeth Egbert became Executive Director of the Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences in November.

Dr. Angelo Gimondo, former Superintendent of District 30, becomes the new Senior Instructional Manager for the Arts of the New York City Department of Education. He will develop a comprehensive K-12 arts curriculum for the public schools.

Agnes Gund has been appointed Chairperson of the New York City Advisory Commission for Cultural Affairs by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

Retirements

Judith Daykin, President and CEO of City Center since 1992.
Joanne Koch, Executive Director of the Film Society of Lincoln Center since 1971.
Samuel Sachs II, Director of the Frick Collection since 1997, effective September.