ANDY WARHOL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES INAUGURAL ARTS WRITING GRANTS

Four magazines from New York City and one from Ithaca were awarded approximately $100,000 each from the Andy Warhol Foundation's Arts Writing Initiative: Bomb Magazine; The Brooklyn Rail; Cabinet; Esopus; and Nka: Journal of Contemporary African Art. Seven New York writers were also awarded grants ranging from $8,500-$50,000. Their projects ranged from scholarly studies to experiments with new and alternative media. The Arts Writing Initiative is a three-year, $3 million program to support independent arts publications and individual writers on the arts, including those working in scholarly studies as well as experiments with new and alternative media. The awards to individual writers are administered by the Creative Capital Foundation and were announced on February 23. For their project descriptions and the 2007 grant calendar, please visit www.artswriters.org.

PEOPLE

Jeffrey Weiss has been appointed the new director of the Dia Art Foundation, effective late spring 2007. Mr. Weiss is currently curator and head of the Department of Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Gerard Mortier has been named the general manager and artistic director of the New York City Opera, beginning in 2009. He is currently the director of the Paris National Opera.

NEWS AT THE ALLIANCE

SAVE THE DATE: MAY 31 IS THE ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS SPRING BENEFIT

On May 31 the Alliance for the Arts will honor Joan Tisch, Laurie Tisch and Jonathan Tisch for their cultural and civic leadership. The spring benefit will take place Thursday, May 31 from 6:30 to 10 pm at 583 Park Avenue (at 63rd Street).