LeAp in the News

LEAP STUDENTS CHOSEN TO PARTICIPATE IN HSBC’S GRAND OPENING
AND UNLOCKING THE WORLD’S POTENTIAL EXHIBIT

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Where: HSBC’s Manhattan Branch, 250 Park Avenue, New York, NY

NEW YORK, NY– September 22, 2010 – This Thursday, HSBC Bank USA, N.A. (HSBC) will be officially re-opening the doors to its Manhattan branch on 250 Park Avenue following a significant upgrade. In honor of the event, they have created a local student art exhibit that ties in with their Unlocking the World’s Potential campaign, a global advertising campaign using advertisements in unexpected places. Five LeAp students from PS 56K in Brooklyn were chosen to have their art work displayed in the lobby of the new branch. This exhibit encourages young artists to use their creative potential to the fullest, and think outside the average means of artistic display.

Since 2007, LeAp and HSBC have developed a strong partnership through the bank’s support of LeAp’s Public Art Program. This program empowers middle school students to express themselves on important social issues in their communities through the creation and public exhibition of art in NYC parks—comprising the largest student exhibition in NYC parks history and the first to span five boroughs. “HSBC has been a true partner in helping us bring innovative arts education programming to thousands of NYC public school students,” stated Alexandra Leff, Director of the LeAp’s Public Art Program.

LeAp Mounts Largest Student Exhibition in the History of NYC Parks

Monday, 12 July 2010

Developed by LeAp’s Public Art Program in cooperation with NYC Parks & Recreation, this third-annual citywide exhibition seeks to empower young people to have a voice in their communities through the creation and public exhibition of art in NYC parks.
You can view the public art tables in the following local parks through August:

Staten Island
IS 51R at Clove Lakes Park -- playground entrance along Clove Rd btwn. Cheshire Pl. and Bard Ave.
IS 61R at Silver Lake Park -- near Environmental Protection bldg. behind dog run, entrance along Victory Blvd. and Eddy St.

Brooklyn
IS 347K at Fermi Playground corner of Starr Street & Central Avenue
IS 291K at Irving Square Park at center of park near stage Park bordered by Knickerbocker, Wilson Aves, Weirfield, and Halsey Sts

Queens
P 9Q at Juniper Valley Park enter at Juniper Boulevard South at 78th Street Near to flagpole along walkway near playground
P 75Q at Forest Park behind Queens parks headquarter at “Overlook” 80-30 Park Lane and Forest Park Drive near Sobelsohn Playground

Manhattan
St. Hope Leadership at St. Nicholas Park at Playground 133 St. Nicholas Avenue at West 133rd Street
Academy for Social Action at Sheltering Arms Park, west of Amsterdam Avenue between 129-130 Streets

Bronx
Accion Academy at Crotona Park in front of Tennis House inside park along Crotona Avenue between Claremont Parkway and Crotona Park North
IS 219X at Claremont Park at top of park near gazebo and park house. Entrance where Teller Avenue meets Morris Avenue (off of East Mount Eden Avenue)

LeAp’s Public Art Program works with students from 10 NYC public middle schools to explore community issues, examine the history, practice and power of public art and ultimately create beautiful artworks using a school lunchroom table as a canvas—a symbol of student ideas and conversations. Students also met with distinguished LeAp guest artists Christo, Chuck Close, Tom Otterness, Dennis Oppenheim, Vito Acconci, Audrey Flack, Emma Amos, Alice Aycock, Keith Sonnier and Julie Heffernan.

On April 29, the student artists presented their artwork at Union Square, where they were joined by Dennis M. Walcott (NYC Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development), Kevin E. Jeffrey (NYC Parks Deputy Commissioner for Public Programs), Karen Rosner (NYC Department of Education Coordinator of Visual Arts), Chuck Close (LeAp guest artist) and Emma Amos (LeAp guest artist).

Through public art, the students expressed themselves on important issues in their communities---gangs, teen pregnancy, healthcare, environment---through beautiful and meaningful works of art: 10 tables decorated with murals, collage and mosaic.

The program has been endorsed by NYC Parks & Recreation, NYC Department of Education, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, and the Offices of the mayor and governor, and generously supported by HSBC Bank USA, NA, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, NYC Parks & Recreation, Mariano Brothers Specialty Moving, George P. Mills, Astoria Federal Savings, The Compleat Sculptor and KADKO.

LeAp’s Gala on the Hudson

Monday, 31 May 2010 00:00

*  Tuesday, June 8, 2010 - at Pier 66a Maritime (26th Street at the Hudson River)  6:30 pm – 9 pm

Enjoy cocktails & hors d’oeuvres, live jazz, and LeAp student performances at LeAp’s Gala on the Hudson---Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at Pier 66 Maritime: 26th Street at the Hudson River from 6:30-9:00pm---and celebrate LeAp’s 33 years of serving over two million students with innovative arts education programs. Hosted by Phillip Bloch, Hollywood’s fashion stylist, actor, producer and author, we will honor internationally-renowned LeAp Guest Artists Christo, Dennis Oppenheim, Audrey Flack, Tom Otterness, Emma Amos, Julie Heffernan and others.

Fidelity FutureStage – Two Nights: June 9 and June 14

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 00:00

Come celebrate an evening of theater with two nights of Fidelity FutureStage on June 9 and June 14 as high school students, who have had the chance to work with Broadway professionals, bring their plays to the main stage.

Honorary host Hilary Swank sets the tone for an unforgettable finale event on June 14 at The Imperial Theatre at 8 pm. **TICKETS REQUIRED – Please contact Allison@leapnyc.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you’d like to attend**

Students will also perform their plays at the Fidelity FutureStage Celebration Day on June 9 at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts High School in Queens at 7 pm.

The students have attended shows including View from the Bridge, Billy Elliot The Musical, and Memphis. In addition, guest artists from playwright Michael Weller, actors Frankie Faison and Chazz Palminteri, and puppeteer Basil Twist visited the students to talk to them about their craft and careers.

Selected student playwrights participated in an exciting roundtable with playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly) where they discussed what drives them and their ideas and challenges.

In addition, Samuel French Publishing is releasing a volume of the student play