Community Corner

Long Island Arts Alliance Kicks Off Second Annual Festival

"Arts Alive" festival to hold over 35 events through end of October.

The Long Island Arts Alliance kicked off the start of their Second Annual “Arts Alive LI” Festival Wednesday afternoon at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City. The festival starts on Friday for a month-long showcase of arts, entertainment and cultural attractions that will last through the month of October.

There are over 35 events scheduled including concerts, theater and dance productions, gourmet food and art exhibitions, many of which are free to attend.

“I think it’s really, really important that we all recognize the value of the arts,” Long Island native singer Melissa Errico said. “We’re here to get the word out about the great stuff that has been accomplished and that is available.”

In addition to being this year’s spokeswoman for the festival, Errico will be giving her solo concert debut with two performances of Broadway and cabaret songs at the Tilles Center in Brookville on Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Errico has been featured in several Broadway productions, including Les Miserables, and been nominated for a Tony award.

Many of the chairpersons of the festival emphasized the importance of the arts and how far Long Island has come in terms of art and cultural resources being available to residents in their own backyards.

“It’s an attempt to raise the awareness of the importance of art and culture not only to the social fabric of our island but also the economy,” Jack Bransfield, chairman of Long Island Arts Alliance and retired chairman of the New York Community Bank Foundation said.

“As a Regent, I am very distressed because of our emphasis on testing and math and English because teachers are evaluated on it and school districts on Long Island are giving up some of the art and music that have made Long Island great,” said Roger Tilles, who is also chairman of the Long Island Arts Alliance.

“Contrary to what you read in the newspaper that you need to be an automaton to make it in this economy, you can enjoy the arts, music, culture and entertainment, it makes life sweeter, it makes your understanding of the world grow and I think the young people today get it perhaps and are voting with their feet in terms of their majors or their minors,” Hofstra University President Dr. Stuart Rabinowitz said. “I think that the arts as combined with those downtown developments are absolutely a crucial part in developing a new and vibrant Long Island economy.”

One of the signature events will be the premiere and showcasing at the Cradle of Aviation Museum of the IMAX 3D National Geographic film “Jerusalem,” directed by Canadian-born filmmaker Daniel Ferguson, giving audiences a glimpse into the Holy Land and iconic sights including the Western Wall, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Dome of the Rock, the Sea of Galilee and the mountain fortress of Masada.

Major sponsors of the festival include WLIW-21, Bethpage Federal Credit Union and the Long Island Community Foundation as well as a grant from the New York State regional economic development council.

“This regional effort shines the spotlight on world-class art, culture and talent of Long Island,” Bethpage Federal Credit Union CEO Kirk Kordeleski said. “We think it is not only world-class, not only the best suburb and the best environment in the country but has all of this great talent that needs venues and opportunities and places to go and that’s what’s ‘Arts Alive’ is all about. Many Long Islanders do not realize all the great art, the world-class venues, the family friendly venues that are available on Long Island.”

For a full calendar of events and to purchase tickets, visit www.artsaliveli.org.


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