NYC & Company Names The Bronx Museum of the Arts Culture Spot for December

NYC & COMPANY NAMES THE BRONX MUSEUM OF THE ARTS CULTURE SPOT FOR DECEMBER

—Visitors to Receive a Free Family Admission Pass Valid Through June 2012—

New York City (November 30, 2011)—NYC & Company, New York City's marketing, tourism and partnership organization, today announced The Bronx Museum of the Arts is Culture Spot pick for December as part of NYC & Company’s monthly program designed to highlight different arts organizations and encourage local and visitor exploration. Culture Spot is produced by the NYC & Company Foundation to promote cultural tourism in all five boroughs by developing cultural opportunities accessible to everyone. To mark this occasion, throughout December The Bronx Museum of the Arts will offer visitors a free family admission pass to the museum for up to four guests, valid through June 30, 2012. The 40-year-old institution, located on the historic Grand Concourse, houses contemporary and 20th-century works created by American artists, including 800 paintings, sculptures, drawings and photographs.

“This month’s Culture Spot offer provides a great opportunity for visitors and locals alike to discover the Bronx and witness dynamic contemporary art inspired by the culturally diverse borough,” said Annie Bergen, Vice President of Arts and Culture at NYC & Company. “We are proud to support this special value on admission for a six-month period.”

“We believe contemporary art is a powerful way to express and explore the ideas, issues and experiences we all encounter in our lives,” said Holly Block, Executive Director of The Bronx Museum of the Arts. “Our institution serves as a gathering place for artists and communities in the Bronx to express themselves and share perspectives with audiences from around the world. With programs ranging from free open houses to exhibitions featuring new and acclaimed artists, we know everyone will enjoy a visit to The Bronx Museum of the Arts.”

Featured exhibitions and events running through December include:

MUNTADAS: INFORMATION>>SPACE>>CONTROL, by artist Antoni Muntadas, features videos and art installations that use images from sports and everyday life to create new meanings about the way information is conveyed, interpreted and manipulated. Born in Barcelona but living and working in New York since 1971, Muntadas is best known for his multimedia works and public art installations that address social and political issues. The exhibition ends January 15, 2012.

Urban Archives: Emilio Sanchez in the Bronx consists of a group of works by Cuban-born American artist Emilio Sanchez with related archival material and a special interpretive project by Bronx-based artist Laura Napier. With a colorful palette and rigorous architectural design, all the pieces depict commercial buildings in the Hunts Point area of the South Bronx, including bodegas and auto shops in an almost idyllic style that makes a stark contrast with preconceived views of the borough. The exhibition ends June 17, 2012.

First Fridays!
December 2
6–10pm

Singer, songwriter and humanitarian Maya Azucena and her band will present an interactive, all-ages music workshop and performance on artist identity, self-expression and improvisation. A screening of her social justice–themed music video for “Cry Love” will follow the workshop, along with a special performance by Maya and her band. First Fridays! is a free monthly public program that presents film, performances, dance and other special events.

Bronx Talks: Bronx Stories
December 9
6:30–8:30pm

This free public program celebrates arts in the borough and beyond with performances by storytellers, musicians, poets, dancers and artists inspired by their Bronx experiences and current artwork showing in the Museum.

Family Affair
December 10
1–4pm

Celebrate the holidays with the Museum through art-making activities, food and tours of its current exhibitions. This free seasonal afternoon program promotes the special bond between parents/guardians and their children (12 and under). Family Affair offers an ever-changing program that includes hands-on activities developed in collaboration with teaching artists, performances, guided tours, screenings and other surprises.

To take advantage of The Bronx Museum of the Arts’ monthlong visitor offer, patrons can redeem the discount coupon at the museum. Coupons will be available during the entire month of December at the Official NYC Information Centers in Midtown Manhattan, Times Square and Harlem, the Official NYC Information Kiosks at City Hall and Chinatown, and can be downloaded at nycgo.com/culturespot. The offer may not be combined with any other discount or promotion, and is valid from December 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012.

To celebrate the month’s Culture Spot pick, Annie Bergen will host a special podcast with Executive Director of The Bronx Museum of the Arts Holly Block. They will discuss highlights of the museum’s exhibits as well as suggest things to see and do for a day in the Bronx. Trivia questions about the interview will be asked over Twitter (@nycgo) each week in December for a chance to win an individual one-year membership to the museum. To listen to the podcast and learn more about the Culture Spot program, visit nycgo.com/culturespot.

For the latest announcements on NYC & Company programs, follow . Visit nycgo.com to find out everything there is to see and do in New York City.

About The Bronx Museum of the Arts:
The flagship cultural institution of the Bronx, founded in 1971, The Bronx Museum of the Arts focuses on 20th-century and contemporary art, while serving the culturally diverse populations of the Bronx and the greater New York metropolitan area. The museum's home on the Grand Concourse is a distinctive contemporary landmark designed by the internationally renowned firm
Arquitectonica. The Bronx Museum of the Arts maintains a permanent collection of 20th- and 21st-century works by artists of African, Asian and Latin American ancestry. Additionally, the Museum collects works by artists for whom the Bronx has been critical to their artistic practice and development. The Museum's educational offerings spring from these central programs with outreach to children and families as well as adult audiences.

About NYC & Company:
NYC & Company is the official marketing, tourism and partnership organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.

About the NYC & Company Foundation:
The NYC & Company Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable and educational organization whose mission is to support tourism to New York City by promoting the arts and cultural organizations that make visiting New York City a special and exciting experience. Since its inception in 1999, the Foundation has focused on educating domestic and international audiences about the vibrant and diverse cultural community throughout New York City.

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