Honoring Diversity in the Arts Community

On August 19, 2006, Manhattan Community Board Eleven, East Harlem’s primary public and civic institution, is bringing together an ecletic group of artists from all nationalities for its third annual Arts and Cultural Networking Celebration. This event will take place at East 106th Street between Lexington to Second Avenues, from 12:00 – 6:30PM. This free event brings together established artists and cultural institutions from all parts of the neighborhood. These organizations are but not limited to the Museum of the City of New York, Taller Boricua, El Museo Del Barrio, PR Dreams, the National Black Theater and other cultural insitutions from this diverse City.

The event will be centrally located in the hub of culture and art in East Harlem. Various artists from art and the entertainment world have lived in our neighborhood. Artists like James De La Vega, whose works can be seen on the streets of East Harlem. Jazz singer Gloria DeNard, who still teaches here in East Harlem through Manna House. The former residence of actress Cicely Tyson is a few blocks away from the festival site. Finally, visitors can walk along the Tito Puente way and marvel at the surroundings where this legend lived or visit the wonderful art at Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center.

“We believe that East Harlem is the perfect venue for a multicultural arts celebration. This event serves as a tool to expose city residents to the different cultures of the world,” states Lino Rios, Chair of Community Board Eleven.

The festivities are being organized by Manhattan Community Board Eleven’s Cultural Committee. “Art intertwines every aspect of life and sustains social solidarity; thus, on this day East Harlem honors and celebrates the diversity of the art community and the pioneers of civilzation,” states Taina Traverso, Chair of the Arts and Cultural Affairs Committee. “East Harlem/El Barrio has always been a cradle for artists to expand their talents, be it what ever form they are working with, from music to dance to visual,” states a long-time Spanish Harlem artist Fernando Salicrup.

Manhattan Community Board Eleven is a New York City government agency that plans and advocates for the needs of East Harlem/Spanish Harlem. For more information, log onto www.cb11m.org.