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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 085-13
March 6, 2013

MAYOR BLOOMBERG KICKS OFF WEEK OF NEW YORK CITY ARTS EVENTS THAT WILL GENERATE MORE THAN $54 MILLION IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

The Armory Show, The Art Show, and Other Art Fairs and Exhibitions Expected to Attract More Than 66,000 Attendees and Generate Upwards of $54 Million in Economic Activity

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin, President of The Armory Show Noah Horowitz and President of the Art Dealers Association of America Dorsey Waxter today kicked off a week of arts-related activities and events taking place in New York City from March 7th to March 10th. The Armory Show and The Art Show are expected to draw more than 66,000 attendees and generate more than $54 million in economic activity in New York City. Other art shows and fairs taking place include: Independent, PooL Art Fair, Scope NY, Volta NY, and ArtExpoNY. Last year, a record 52 million people visited New York City, and more than 20 million of those visitors participated in a cultural activity during their stay. The kickoff took place at the opening of the Armory Show at Pier 94 in Manhattan, where the Mayor was joined by Art Dealers Association of America Director Linda Blumberg and Museum of Modern Art Director Glenn D. Lowry.

“Today New York City is the center of the modern art world, and the arts have never been stronger or more vibrant here,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Every year, this week is one of the most exciting, and most important, on the cultural calendar. Thousands of artists, collectors, curators, and art lovers flock to New York City to take advantage of this week’s happenings, and that’s good news for the city’s tourism industry and our economy.”

The centennial edition of the Armory Show will take place from March 7th to March 10th at Piers 92 and 94 on Manhattan’s West Side. The show will feature 214 exhibitors who represent the world’s leading art dealers – including 71 galleries based in New York City. The gala preview on March 6 will support Museum of Modern Art, an internally renowned art institution that serves more than 2.5 million New Yorkers and visitors each year.

“Every March, art fairs led by The Armory Show and The Art Show provide an excellent opportunity for audiences to engage with remarkable artists, galleries, and cultural groups from across the City and around the world,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin. “New York’s extraordinary creative community enhances neighborhoods in all five boroughs all year round, and these fairs underscore how critical the arts are to our economy, identity, and quality of life.”

“We are proud to partner again with The Armory Show and The Art Show to welcome artists, galleries, collectors, critics and curators from around the world to experience the energy and vibrancy of New York City’s cultural community,” said George Fertitta CEO of NYC & Company. “We encourage visitors and New Yorkers to take advantage of the dozens of art shows and events taking place this week across the City.”

Noah Horowitz, Executive Director of the Armory Show, said, “This is an important year for The Armory Show, both in New York and as an international Fair. I’m delighted that the strength of the 2013 edition has been reflected across so much of our programme, from the incredible works brought by our exhibitors over 2,500 of which have been viewed online prior to opening ­ to our special projects. We are also honoured by the prestigious and talented individuals who have joined our new collector group, the Centennial Committee, and I look forward to their input in future editions of one of New York’s major lynchpins of the art market.”

Throughout the week, many public events organized in partnership with the Armory Show will take place at various museums, galleries and non-profit organizations in neighborhoods citywide, under the umbrella of “Armory Arts Week.” These include Uptown and Museum Mile (March 5), SoHo Night and Bronx Day (March 7), Long Island City Night (March 8), Chelsea Day and Brooklyn Night (March 9), and the Lower East Side/Downtown (March 10).

The 25th annual Art Show, organized by the Art Dealers Association of America, will take place from March 6 to March 10 at the Park Avenue Armory. The show will feature more than 70 exhibitors who represent the nation’s leading art dealers – the majority of which are based in New York City. The Art Show’s gala preview on March 5 supported The Henry Street Settlement, a New York City agency that delivers a wide range of social services, healthcare and arts programming to more than 50,000 New Yorkers each year.

Art Dealers Association of America President, Dorsey Waxter said, “New York City is truly a global art capital, and the art fairs this week present an invaluable opportunity for visitors to interact with artists and artworks from around the world. ADAA galleries in The Art Show at The Park Avenue Armory present museum-like exhibitions of renowned artists that will inspire and reflect the creativity for which New York is known.”

For information about art shows and other events taking place this week, visit nyc.gov.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Marc LaVorgna/Julie Wood   (212) 788-2958

Danai Pointer/Ryan Max   (Cultural Affairs)
(212) 513-9322

Kimberley Spell/Emily Mayrath (NYC & Company)   (212) 484-1270

Allison Rodman (Armory Show)   (646) 616-7433

Concetta Duncan (ADAA)   (212) 627-1455 x232



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