UNION SQUARE AWARDS GRANTS $350,000 TO NEW YORK CITY ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
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TEN GROUPS RECOGNIZED FOR GROUNDBREAKING CONTRIBUTIONS
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June 2007
The Union Square Awards is pleased to announce the 2007 recipients of the Union
Square Arts Award in recognition of innovative work with youth and families in
low-income communities across New York City. Ten organizations specializing in
dance, theater, music, performing and visual arts, film, poetry and creative
writing will each receive a $35,000 grant for general operating support. Through
the generosity of an anonymous donor, the program was launched last year to support
community arts organizations that have not received either substantial funding
or public accolade.
"In the spirit of the Union Square Awards, the arts award recognizes
the important and leadership role played by arts organizations in creating
educational opportunities,
building community and promoting progressive social change," says Iris
Morales, Executive Director of the Union Square Awards.
Established in 1998, the
Union Square Awards has granted more than $10 million to support grassroots projects
and organizations working on pressing social justice
issues across the 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 2007 Union Square Arts Awards will be presented at a reception on June
22nd
to the following organizations:
Alwan for the Arts promotes the diverse cultures
of the Arab community in New York City. Its wide-ranging programming showcases
musical and theatrical performances,
film festivals and screenings, book signings, language and literature classes.
www.alwanforthearts.org
Calpulli Mexican Dance Company is dedicated to presenting and promoting the rich
heritage of Mexican culture. Programs for both adults and children incorporate
music and theatre to showcase the diversity of Mexico’s regional dances.
www.calpullidance.org
Children’s PressLine is dedicated to ensuring that young people grow
up as active participants in civic society and that they reflect their experiences
on public policy issues. Through journalism, CPL brings a youth perspective
to the forefront of local and national issues. www.cplmedia.org
City at Peace – NY uses the performing arts to empower teenagers to
create safe, healthy, peaceful lives and communities, developing the next generation
of community leaders. Youth create an original musical and community action
projects. www.cpnational.org/ny
Ghetto Film School provides community-based cinema arts education, production
training, career development and distribution services to aspiring filmmakers
ages 14 to 21 years old. www.ghettofilm.org
Groove with Me offers free dance classes and performance opportunities to
girls and young women, ages 4 to 18 years old, to build leadership skills,
pride, self-confidence, creativity, joy, and the discipline needed to grow
into strong and successful women. www.groovewithme.org
Hip-Hop Association builds community and fosters social change utilizing the
positive values of hip-hop at its genesis. Through education, film, performing
arts, technology, and leadership development programs, it engages young people,
educators, parents and community members. www.hiphopassociation.org
Hip-Hop Theater Festival is dedicated to creating innovative work using the
hip-hop aesthetic; producing and presenting artists whose work addresses socio-political
issues; and serving young, urban communities through outreach and education.
www.hiphoptheaterfest.org
louderARTS Project develops constructive and challenging spaces for artists
to create, critique, and teach poetry by sponsoring literary arts programming
in underserved communities and by encouraging artistic experimentation. www.louderarts.com
MoCADA - Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts is a unique museum
devoted to utilizing the visual arts as a medium to address contemporary social,
political and economic issues that disproportionately affect people of the
African Diaspora. www.mocada.org
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.
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