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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 090-10
March 2, 2010

MAYOR BLOOMBERG KICKS OFF WEEK OF ART EVENTS THROUGHOUT CITY

The Art Dealers Association of America Art Show, the Armory Show and Other Events are Expected to Draw 60,000 Attendees and Generate Nearly $44 Million in Economic Activity

Local and International Art-Related Events and Activities throughout New York City's Neighborhoods Spotlight City as Cultural Capital

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin and NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta today kicked off a week of art-related activities and events taking place in New York City from March 2nd through March 7th. The dozens of shows and events, including the Arts Dealers Association of America’s (ADAA) Art Show and the Armory Show, are expected to draw 60,000 attendees and generate $43.9 million in economic activity and $1.8 million in tax revenues. Joining the Mayor at the announcement, which took place at the opening of the ADAA Art Show at the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan, were ADAA President and Mitchell-Innes & Nash Gallery Director Lucy Mitchell-Innes and Armory Show Founder and Vice President Paul Morris.

"New York City is home to the world’s most vibrant and diverse arts and cultural community, and this growing week of events underscores that," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Over the years, the success of the shows has spurred other new events and fairs throughout the City, and the week of activity continues to grow. This year, we expect it to generate nearly $44 million in economic activity, and the timing couldn’t be any better."

The 22nd annual Art Show will take place March 3rd-7th at the Park Avenue Armory, and includes seventy exhibitors representing the nation’s leading art dealers, including 55 galleries based in New York City. The show will feature 26 solo and two-person exhibitions. The Art Show’s opening benefit on March 2nd will support the Henry Street Settlement, whose social services and cultural programming serve New Yorkers from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, and across the five boroughs. The 12th annual Armory Show will take place March 4th-7th at Piers 92 and 94, featuring important art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Its opening preview on March 3rd will support the Museum of Modern Art. Each year, the Armory Show attracts artists, galleries, collectors, critics and curators from around the world. The success of the show has spurred additional events around the City. Other fairs taking place this week include VOLTA, Pulse, Scope and Dutch Art Now, Fountain New York, Independent, Pool Art Fair, Red Dot, Korean Arts Show and Verge.

"The extraordinary variety of work featured at this week’s fairs demonstrates the dynamism of New York City as meeting place and market for the art world," said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Levin. "With so many diverse and exciting events all over the city, this week has grown into a unique opportunity to celebrate visual arts from around the world, building on the incredible concentration of artists, museums, galleries and collectors that call New York City home."

Through March 7th, events around the City organized in partnership with the Armory Show will highlight nonprofits, arts institutions and local galleries in several New York City neighborhoods through free public programs.  These include Uptown & Museum Mile Day (March 2nd), SoHo Night (March 4th), Long Island City Night (March 5th), Chelsea Day and Brooklyn Night (March 6th) and Lower East Side Day (March 7th).

To capitalize on increasing tourism during the show, NYC & Company has partnered with 16 hotels in its Style & Scene collection to offer special hotel packages including admission to the Armory Arts Show, a complimentary VIP Bloomingdales’ shopping envelope, and other benefits from the hotels.  A full listing of the Style & Scene hotel deals can be found at nycgo.com.

"We are happy to welcome art lovers from around the world to New York City this week to  attend the exciting activity surrounding the week of art activities - we encourage visitors to take advantage of the special hotel packages being offered by our Style & Scene promotion while here," said George Fertitta, CEO of NYC & Company.

"Art galleries are at the center of New York’s rich cultural life, bringing free artistic programming to tens of thousands of art lovers, while at the same time supporting artists who are vital to any cultural community," said ADAA President Lucy Mitchell-Innes. "The Art Dealers Association of America’s Art Show, which benefits Henry Street Settlement, is proud to present seventy of the nation’s leading art galleries all under one roof of the Park Avenue Armory, showcasing the art from recently completed works back through art history."

"We are delighted that the Armory Show and the ADAA’s Art Show are scheduled on the same week this year, reaffirming that our city is truly the center of the art world," said Armory Show Vice President Paul Morris.

Nearly half of all visitors to New York City come for culture. In 2009, more than 21 million of the more than 45 million total visitors to New York City participated in a cultural activity. Approximately 80 percent of international visitors and 40 percent of domestic visitors enjoyed a cultural activity, regardless of the main purpose of their trip. A recent study conducted by NYC & Company, in collaboration with cultural groups from across the five boroughs, confirmed the strength and resilience of the City’s creative sector. The study found that during the downturn, people would rather reduce other expenditures, as opposed to not participating in their preferred cultural activities.

For more information about art shows and other public events taking place this week, visit nycgo.com.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/Andrew Brent   (212) 788-2958

Kate deRosset (Cultural Affairs)   (212) 513-9323

Chris Heywood (NYC & Company)   (212) 484-5458

Dan Tanzilli (ADAA)   (212) 627-1455

Giovanni Garcia (Armory Show)   (646) 616-7433




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