As we gear up for another school year, we’ve been hard at work applying for two new grants (Lily Auchincloss, Investors Bank Foundation), developing our new artist blog site, and planning events for the fall.

In June, the Sansom Foundation awarded AFP another generous grant for the fourth consecutive year. The funds will help support an expanded effort to market AFP’s Arts Education Programs to new schools and partner organizations. We developed a great new brochure and we have been reaching out to many new schools across NYC over the summer. If you’re a teacher or school looking for dynamic artistic programming, let us know!

We’re equally excited about our new artist blog site which was launched in June. We have several great bloggers writing across various art genres. Hooking us up with fresh news, interviews and reviews in visual art, performance and such is Anni Irish. Anni’s a Brooklyn based writer & editor and a graduate of NYU. You can check out her new posts in the middle of the month and the end of the month. Heading up our nightlife, parties, clubs blog is none other than former TONY’s nightlife editor and all around great guy, Bruce Tantum. Bruce has DJ’ed at many AFP events through the years and when this opportunity came up I couldn’t think of someone we would rather have on board. Bruce’s blog titled, “We Learn Dances” posts on the first of each month. AFP’s super duper, all around volunteer and fashion guru Allyson Jacobs heads up the fashion blog. Allyson has already posted a few things to check out for the fall season. Barry Komitor, who is hard at work with all things arts education, is providing regular updates in the blog on our programs. His latest post highlights some of our summer projects including a special jazz focused project, recording sessions and our summer enrichment program with the JCC on NYC’s upper west side. Long time AFP artist and talented filmmaker Daniel Maldonado is keeping us in tune to the happenings in the film world and has shared some personal experiences in making his first feature film. Pete Trombino, who has played a big role in our “Homegrown” music series will be our featured blogger for music.

Speaking of which, we are about to re-launch the live music series at Bowery Electric with 3 schedules shows. The first is coming up on Wednesday, October 15th, which is followed by a November 19th show, and a December 17th date. AFP’s next visual arts exhibition will also be opening in October. The group show, titled “Deja vu” will open on October 30th at NOoSPHERE Arts on Houston Street, NYC, and run through November 11th. We’ll have many more details coming up for this show. In addition to these events, we are working on a Brooklyn, Shorts & Beats event for mid October. Once we have the details, we will share. Unfortunately, the big event we were planning for September had to be postponed. The New Museum turned out to be not so friendly to other non profits. If you’re on the prowl for a fun time this Friday night, the LSL folks have put together a special discount price for AFP list members. LSL is hosting their annual boat party and it’s always a great time. Jeannie Hopper will be spinning along with the awesome Victor Simonelli. Check out the following details. We hope to see you soon at one of these functions. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Aug 22, 2014: Liquid Sound Lounge Annual Summer Soulful House Boat Dance Party, 15th Anniversary!
Tix/Info: LiquidSoundLounge.com

LSL love AFP! Proceeds to benefit Art for Progress.
Special discount for Art for Progress Members online password/code:
AFP (all caps) = $20tkt+surcharge at the dock night of = $30.
Get your Tix