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2019 Sing for Hope Pianos Hit Nyc

News
May 22, 2019

50 NEW SING FOR HOPE PIANOS TO HIT THE STREETS OF NYC THIS SUMMER JUNE 4-23

Sing for Hope to place its 500th artist-designed piano in June, making NYC host to more public pianos than any other city

NEW YORK – May 20, 2019 – The renowned Sing for Hope Pianos will return to the streets of New York City this summer from June 4-23. In celebration of its year-round creative work in communities, Sing for Hope will place 50 artist-designed pianos in parks and public spaces across the Five Boroughs for anyone and everyone to play. The country’s largest annually recurring public art project now in its eighth year, the Sing for Hope Pianos are made possible in partnership with New York City Parks and Recreation, New York City Department of Education, The Office of the Mayor, and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, with special support provided by Fosun International. A non-profit established in 2006, Sing for Hope will mark the placement of its 500th Sing for Hope Piano this year, making New York City host to more public pianos than any other city in the world. The official unveiling of the 2019 Sing for Hope Pianos will take place on Monday, June 3rd, beginning at 12:00 p.m., at Fosun Plaza at 28 Liberty in New York City. Sing for Hope Co-Founders Camille Zamora and Monica Yunus will kick off the festivities, which will feature pop-up performances around the plaza by a range of performers, including several Broadway casts. This year’s launch will allow even greater opportunity for the public to play each of the 50 SFH Pianos. As New Yorkers and visitors alike move among the 50 unique masterpieces, their favorite NYC musicians just might pop up right next to them, transforming the plaza into a stage and the spectators into active participants. This year's playable masterpieces have been created by a diverse range of artists, including the Broadway casts of Mean Girls, Dear Evan Hansen, and Jersey Boys; the cast of the hit TV show The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; media giant Playbill; and leading visual artists from all Five Boroughs and around the world, including artist/designer Alpana "Tejaswini," Florida-based educator Bridget Wendt, and Staten Island-based family of artists Rob, Peggy, and Megan Padovano. Liquitex is the Official Paint Sponsor of the 2019 Sing for Hope Pianos. In addition to supplying the paint, Liquitex artists provide Sing for Hope’s Piano Artists with ongoing artistic skill-building in the form of free workshops and demonstrations that allow the SFH Piano Artists to bring their designs to life. Liquitex Resident Artist Jimmy Leslie created a special Sing for Hope Piano as a symbol of the partnership, which will be displayed at their headquarters during the June exhibition and later donated to a public school. “As Sing for Hope continues to expand nationally and internationally, we remain deeply committed to our NYC home that inspired it all. A hub of community and connection forms around each Sing for Hope Piano. Multiply that hub of community by the 500 SFH Pianos we will have placed to date as of this summer, and you have a city transformed,” say Sing for Hope Co-Founders Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora. “These 50 one-of-a-kind Sing for Hope Pianos will not only provide music outdoors for three weeks in June; they will also live on, starting this fall, at permanent homes in NYC public schools, extending the reach of our education programming to over 100,000 New York City students and community members annually. The SFH Pianos serve as the catalysts for our dynamic ‘Citizen Artist Curriculum,’ sparking inspiration for years to come." The Sing for Hope Pianos will be available for anyone and everyone to play in high-traffic locations throughout the Five Boroughs including Virginia Park and Van Cortlandt House Museum (Bronx); Brooklyn Bridge Park and Coney Island Boardwalk (Brooklyn); Christopher Park, Bryant Park: New York Public Library, and Central Park (Manhattan); Flushing Town Hall, Rockaway Park Boardwalk, and Gantry Plaza State Park (Queens); and Kivlehan Park and Midland Beach (Staten Island). A full list of locations is available at www.singforhope.org/2019-sfh-pianos. Each year, the Sing for Hope Pianos are brought to life at 28 Liberty, an icon of Lower Manhattan. A Fosun Property Holdings building, 28 Liberty has generously donated space for a fourth year, providing the communal studio where artists have designed and painted the 2019 Sing for Hope Pianos. In alignment with Fosun’s long-term commitment to 28 Liberty and to the surrounding community, four of the 50 Sing for Hope Pianos will remain on the Fosun Plaza at 28 Liberty for use throughout the three-week run of the Sing for Hope Pianos program. Americans for the Arts recognized Fosun’s invaluable support of Sing for Hope with the prestigious BCA 10 Award in October, given each year to top businesses partnering with the arts. Later this year, thanks to Fosun’s transformative philanthropic support, Sing for Hope will unveil a new permanent home in the heart of Lower Manhattan: The Sing for Hope Center at 28 Liberty. This innovative hub, designed by Rodriguez Studio Architecture with furnishing by Sangiorgio Mobili, will house the Sing for Hope offices, SFH Pianos Art Studio, and dedicated education and rehearsal facilities. “Our work with Sing for Hope helps advance 28 Liberty’s role as a center for arts and culture in Lower Manhattan while promoting community-inclusive happiness,” said Wei Bo, chief executive representative of Fosun International in the U.S. and Vice President of Fosun Hive. “Sharing joyful art experiences among all communities globally is our dream. The SFH Piano exhibition continues to show Fosun and Sing for Hope’s commitments to New York City’s families.” In the fall, all fifty of the 2019 Sing for Hope Pianos will be placed in permanent homes at Sing for Hope’s “Citizen Artist Schools.” This signature Sing for Hope program, created in partnership with the New York City Department of Education, benefits an estimated 80,000 students and community members each year. In tandem with awarding the SFH Pianos, Sing for Hope also provides a year-round Citizen Artist Curriculum which includes a school-wide assembly, workshops, and resources that guide students in using the arts as a tool for community-building.   The 2019 Sing for Hope Pianos have been made possible by the generous support of Fosun, 28 Liberty, and the Sing for Hope Founders' Circle, including The Arnhold Foundation in loving memory of Sissy and Henry Arnhold, The Thea Petschek Iervolino Foundation, The Anna-Maria & Stephen Kellen Foundation, and Ann Ziff. About Sing for Hope Sing for Hope harnesses the power of the arts to create a better world. Through dynamic education, healthcare, and global initiatives, Sing for Hope activates creativity in schools, hospitals, refugee camps, and public spaces for millions of people worldwide. Founded in New York City in 2006, Sing for Hope partners with hundreds of community-based organizations, involves thousands of artists in creative service, and has placed 500+ artist-created Sing for Hope Pianos in public spaces for everyone to enjoy. We champion art for all because we believe the arts have an unmatched capacity to uplift, unite, and heal. More information can be found at www.SingforHope.org. About Fosun Fosun International Limited is a family-focused multinational company that has been listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (00656:HK) since 2007. Founded in 1992, Fosun's total assets were worth RMB638.9 billion (c. US$ 93.1 billion) as of December 31, 2018. With its roots in China, and through technology and innovation, Fosun's mission is to create customer-to-maker (C2M) ecosystems in health, happiness and wealth, providing high-quality products and services for families around the world. About Liquitex Liquitex invented the first water-based acrylic paint in 1955 and since then has partnered with artists to ensure that they continually evolve and innovate - resulting in a long history of acrylic innovation. Today, Liquitex offers the largest array of vibrant acrylic paints, mediums and tools to enable acrylic artists to take their art to new and unprecedented boundaries. With an innovative drive, creative passion and intense desire to share the joys of artistic expression through unparalleled education and community outreach programs, Liquitex is and will continue to be a strong partner to help artists explore their art for decades to come. For more information visit www.liquitex.com