NYCKIDSARTS FALL EDITION

The fall edition of the NYCkidsARTS calendar is now available. For 13 years, NYCkidsARTS has provided a useful resource for New Yorkers, highlighting the wealth of cultural education programs and special events for children in grades K-12 with programs running from mid-September through January.

NYCkidsARTS is available free in public schools, libraries and cultural organizations throughout the city and online.

For further information and listings about the city's cultural community and arts education programs, please visit NYCkidsARTS online at www.nyckidsarts.org.

NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES MONTH

October is National Arts and Humanities Month, a nationwide program coordinated by Americans for the Arts. To find out how your organization can get involved, go to the Americans for the Arts Web site.

NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS BUDGET

On September 23, the Senate passed its version of the FY 2004 Interior Appropriations bill, including $117.5 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and $142 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities. The House of Representatives has already adopted a bipartisan Congressional Arts Caucus Amendment to increase funding for the NEA by an additional $10 million, for a total of $127.5 million. The two bills will be resolved in October. The funding hike is earmarked for the NEA's Challenge America initiative, which is designed to make the arts more widely available in underserved communities across the country.

ARCHITECTURE WEEK, OCT 7 - 12

Representing Mayor Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Patricia Harris declared the start of a week-long celebration of architecture this morning at the opening of the Center for Architecture at 536 LaGuardia Place. The New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects operates the new multi-use facility.

Architecture Week culminates this weekend with openhousenewyork (see below).

OPENHOUSENEWYORK

Openhousenewyork will celebrate New York City and its architecture by inviting the public inside 80 fascinating sites in all five boroughs, many of which are usually closed to the public, at no charge the weekend of October 10-11.

AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND REINTERMENT

On October 3, the remains of more than 400 African-Americans were finally returned to their rightful resting place at the African Burial Ground in Lower Manhattan. A large number of free and slave African-Americans were buried on the site in the 18th century, but were forgotten until the early 1990s when, during the excavation of a new office building, workers unearthed this cemetery for persons of color. The site covers more than five city blocks and contains the remains of about 427 people. The restored cemetery is a link to a vanished life, a reminder of the coexistence in colonial New York of liberty and slavery, and of the cultural diversity of the early metropolis. For more information, go to www.africanburialground.com.

PEOPLE

Leni R. Darrow has been elected President of the Board for the New York Foundation for the Arts, replacing Margaret C. Ayers, effective September.

Cynthia Elliott became Executive Director of Symphony Space, replacing Joanne Cossa, who has joined Glimmerglass Opera Company as Director, effective September.

Kenneth Jackson will leave the New-York Historical Society where he has served as President, to re-join the faculty at Columbia University, effective May 1, 2004.

Mallory King becomes Executive Director of the Brooklyn Youth Chorus Academy, effective October 8.

Michael Seltzer became President of the New York Regional Association of Grantmakers effective July 28, replacing Barbara Bryan, who retired after serving as President for 18 years.

NEWS FROM THE ALLIANCE

The Citigroup Foundation has renewed its support of NYCkidsARTS in print and online with a two-year grant of $100,000. We are very grateful for Citigroup's commitment to help us bring information about hundreds of cultural programs to young people and their families.

Justin A. Rockefeller and Rosemary Scanlon have been elected to the Alliance Board of Directors.

Fern Glazer becomes Publications Editor of the Alliance for the Arts, replacing Brennan Gerard, who has left to pursue his Moving Theater project, effective October 6.

THIRD HOLIDAY ONLINE GIFT DIRECTORY

The Online Gift Directory, which was launched in December 2001 to encourage shopping at New York City cultural institutions, will repeat this year. Cultural organizations are encouraged to list special offers and submit their information using our online form.

FRIENDS OF THE ARTS PARTY

On November 10, the Alliance will host a fundraiser to benefit the Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Fellowship for Public Policy and the Arts at Christie's New York (20 Rockefeller Plaza, on 49th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues). A cocktail reception will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 pm during the preview of Post War/Contemporary art. Tickets are $100, and may be purchased online at www.allianceforarts.org/wagner.htm, by phone at (212) 947-6340, or at the door.