UNION SQUARE AWARDS GRANTS $455,000 TO ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
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13 GROUPS RECOGNIZED FOR INNOVATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS
TO NEW YOR CITY
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June 1, 2006
The first round of grants made by the Union Square Arts Awards recognizes thirteen
organizations. Through the generosity of an anonymous donor, the program, launched
earlier this year, brings recognition and support to community arts organizations
that have not received either substantial funding or public accolade. Each organization
will receive a $35,000 grant for general operating support for a total of $455,000
to support dance, theater, music, visual arts, film, media arts and creative
writing programs that serve youth and families in New York City’s low-income
communities.
"In the spirit of the Union Square Awards, the arts award recognizes
the important and leadership role played by arts and culture in creating educational
opportunities,
building community and promoting progressive social change,” says Iris
Morales, Executive Director of the Union Square Awards Program.
Established
in 1998, the Union Square Awards program has granted close to $9 million
to support grassroots projects and organizations across New York City.
The program is named after the park on 14th Street where New Yorkers have
organized and raised awareness about contemporary social issues since the nineteenth
century. Known as a forum for the poor and disenfranchised, Union Square
is
identified
with strong commitments and highlights the essential qualities embodied in
the award.
The 2006 Union Square Arts Awards will be presented at a reception
on June 23rd to the following organizations:
Asian American Writers Workshop
www.aaww.org
A community literary arts organization dedicated to creating, publishing, developing
and disseminating creative writing by Asian Americans.
Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (B.A.A.D!)
www.bronxacademyofartsanddance.org
A workshop and performance space dedicate to theater arts and dance programming
for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth and adults.
Chica Luna Productions
www.chicaluna.com
Based in East Harlem, this multimedia organization trains young women of color
in all aspects of video production and distribution.
Comic Book Project
www.comicbookproject.org
Organization helps young people forge pathway to literacy and creativity by
engaging them in outlining, sketching, writing and designing original comic
books on designated themes.
Global Action Project (GAP)
www.global-action.org
Organization provides youth with knowledge, tools, and relationships needed
to create thought-provoking media and to use media as a catalyst for dialogue
and social change.
Harlem Live
www.harlemlive.org
Organization introduces young people to journalism and computer technology
in order to build their skills and leadership as 21st century communicators.
Imagenation
www.imagenation.us
Organization works in the African American community to develop a new generation
of filmmakers, a media literate audience and new venues for screening independently
produced films.
Mama Foundation for the Arts
www.mamafoundation.org
The “Gospel for Teens” program provides musical training in fundamental
vocal techniques and theatrical staging, as well as music history.
Mariachi Academy of New York
www.mariachiacademyny.org
Organization dedicated to educating young people in the Mexican mariachi
tradition. Students learn to play instruments, sing and develop a strong
sense of identity
and community pride.
Mud / Bone Collective, Inc.
www.mudbone.org
Based in the South Bronx, this cross-cultural theater company provides arts
education workshops, nurtures new works by emerging writers and reinterprets
the classics for diverse audiences.
New York Writer’s Coalition
www.nywriterscoalition.org
The Coalition provides creative writing programs for youth and adults historically
deprived of voice in our society in order to create an inclusive city that
honors the lives of all its citizens.
Radio Rootz
www.radiorootz.org
Organization fosters a new generation of socially conscious journalists by
providing young people with tools to create news that reflects their voices,
issues and communities.
Vibe Theater Experience
www.vibetheater.org
This performing arts organization engages young women in sharing stories
and using their voices to build and transform themselves and their communities
through collaborative theater pieces.
The Union Square Awards is a project of the Tides Center whose
mission is to actively promote change toward a healthy society - one founded
on principles
of social justice, equal economic opportunity, a robust democratic process
and environmental sustainability.
Find out more about the Union Square Awards: www.unionsquareawards.org
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