☞ SEE: Harlem School of the Arts

The Harlem School of the Arts is celebrating its 45 anniversary with the Gift of the Arts Holiday Show event next weekend, on Friday, December 18th and Saturday, December 19th at 7:30pm in the HSA Gathering Space. The Gift of the Arts Holiday Show includes performances by HSA’s students and faculty members such as Keith Lewis and Joseph Webb (Dance), The HSA Jazz Ensemble, Steve Oquendo and JP Parren, and a live creation of artwork by the Visual Arts department. The not-for-profit arts institution provides visual, musical and performance arts instruction to over 3,000 students in greater Harlem. Tickets are $12 per person and on sale now at HSA at the Reception Kiosk or by phone 212.926.4100, ext. 325. or info@harlemschoolofthearts.org. The Harlem School of the Arts is at 645 Saint Nicholas Avenue, between West 141st and 145th Streets. Take the A,B,C and D trains to 145th Street or M3 bus to 141st Street. www.harlemschoolforthearts.org

☞ SEE: The Harlem School of the Arts

Saturday, January 16th starting 12 noon, HSA will have its Spring Open House and Registration event at 645 Saint Nicholas Avenue near West 141st Street. The Harlem School of the Arts is celebrating its 45th Year and will have its first registration for new students on next Saturday. Also included with the Saturday registration event , HSA will presents Stringathon, an afternoon reading session of orchestral string favorites (for violin, viola, violoncello and bass players). HSA faculty, staff and guests will conduct three one-hour sessions from 2pm-5pm for string players between the ages of 13 and 18.

The above photos show the school today in its state of renovation. The scaffolding has been up for some time so the students and staff banded together for the Beautification Project of the community spaces. Throw up some plywood, add talented students and voila---instant mural. These guys are doing such a great job for the new visual, musical and dance artists of the future so spread the word and support the arts. Since 2006, a successful 95% of the graduating College Prep seniors have gone on to accredited universities nationwide. To get to the Harlem School of the Arts, take the A, B, C, D and 1 train to 145th Street, when exiting the subway, walk south on the west side of Saint Nicholas Avenue. or take the M3 bus to 141st. www.harlemschoolofthearts.org

☞ SEE: Harlem School of the Arts Open House

Saturday, August 7th, 12:00 NOON-5:00 PM at The Harlem School of the Arts. For over 45 years, the Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) has continued to provide New York City children and adults with classes in dance, music, theater and visual arts. Classes are held during the week and on Saturdays. Want to see for yourself? Come to one of HSA’s Open Houses on Saturday, August 7th and Saturday, September 11th from 12 noon to 5pm at 645 Saint Nicholas Avenue (near 141st Street). During HSA Open Houses, parents and kids will take tours of the HSA dance and visual art studios, music rooms, theater, and class demonstrations. On September 11th, enjoy the live performances, vendors, and music indoors and outdoors at the HSA Block Party. Check out the HSA website for a full list of classes: www.HarlemSchooloftheArts.org. Tel.212.926.4100. This open houses are FREE events open to all. Closest transportation are the A, C, B, D or 1 train to 145th Street or the M3 bus to 141st Street. Photo courtesy the Harlem School of the Arts.

☞ PROTECT: Harlem School of the Arts

A slight extension has been announced in the past days along with information that further reveals the financial troubles of the Harlem School of the Arts. A message sent out to the student's families in the past couple of days advised that the iconic institution had not closed permanently this past Wednesday since "the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (requested) to wait a week before making a decision to close the School forever, the Board instead temporarily suspended classes and lessons and furloughed the School’s staff and faculty for the week of April 3 through 10. During this furlough, the Board has been actively engaged in searching for new funds."

The interim board also advised in the letter that not only will "one or more prominent individuals" need to step up to save the institution financially but they would also need someone to step up and "adopt" the cause of saving the organization and commit to a work with the School to develop and carry out a 3-5 year business plan.

Commitments of new funding to permit continued operations would include $500,000 to finish the school semester, $400,000 additional to enable to hold the summer program and $1.8 million additional to support operations through June 2011. The interim board has also stated that the absolute final decision concerning the fate of the school will be announced on April 24th.

To make the situation even more bewildering for all involved is the fact that HSA originally had about a couple of million in surplus funds as recently as five years ago but poor management and lack of fund raising has placed the nonprofit over a million in debt. The CEO was fired in 2009 and the school's controller was ousted in recent months. In our opinion, this would be a great cause for the Mayor or the city to adopt and turn around since a large dip in charitable donations is the ultimate cause of the school's financial crises. Read more about it in today's NY Times: LINK. Read all HSA related stories in our past post: LINK. Photo by Ulysses

☞ SEE: The Harlem School of the Arts Block Party

Saturday, September 11th, 12:00 NOON - 5:00 PM, at the Harlem School of the Arts. After rallying this year to keep the iconic cultural center open, Harlem School of the Arts is celebrating with their annual block party and open house at St Nicholas Avenue between 141st and 145 Streets. Check out what the school has to offer and celebrate with the community!

To get to the Harlem School of the Arts at 645 St. Nicholas Avenue, take the A, B, C, D or 1 train to 145th Street, when exiting the subway, walk south on the west side of Saint Nicholas Avenue. or take the M3 bus to 141st. www.harlemschoolofthearts.org

☞ PROTECT: Harlem School of the Arts Rally

Saturday, April 17th, 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM at Harlem School of the Arts on 142nd Street and St. Nicholas Avenue. The Save Harlem School of the Arts facebook site has now grown to over 1,000 members (in only five days) and organizers will be planning a rally this upcoming weekend. Over 100 concerned citizens have signed up so far for the afternoon event that will provide more information on the status of iconic school that has been forced to close after 45 years because of recent financial mismanagement. Come show your support, raise your voice and bring your creative ideas to help rescue the school from closing forever. Interested parties can see more information on the Save Harlem School of the Arts Rally facebook site and confirm attendance: LINK. The nearest subway to this location is the A,B,C,D train at 145th Street.

☞ READ: Harlem School of the Arts in the News

                                                                           Photo courtesy Buck Ennis
A Crain's article reports on the recovery of the Harlem School of the Arts which now has some notable stars of the arts world helping out.  Choregrapher Twyler Tharp has  joined on with Afro Latin jazz musician Arturo O'Farrill as part of the teachers in residence program at the acclaimed uptown school.   The duo will be renting space at the 141st Street facility and will also teach or perform in the coming months.  Harlem School of the Arts was on the brink of closing a couple of years back but community activism and new leadership has now placed the institution back on its feet.  Read more in Crain's: LINK

☞ SEE: Harlem School of the Arts Celebrates

Friday, December 18th and Saturday, December 19th at 7:30pm in the HSA Gathering Space. The Gift of the Arts Holiday Show celebrates Harlem School of the Arts and its 45 years. The event will include performances by HSA students and faculty members such as Keith Lewis and Joseph Webb (Dance), The HSA Jazz Ensemble, Steve Oquendo and JP Parren, and a live creation of artwork by the Visual Arts department. The not-for-profit arts institution provides visual, musical and performance arts instruction to over 3,000 students in greater Harlem. Tickets are $12 per person and on sale now at HSA at the Reception Kiosk or by phone 212.926.4100, ext. 325. or info@harlemschoolofthearts.org. The Harlem School of the Arts is at 645 Saint Nicholas Avenue, between West 141st and 145th Streets. Take the A,B,C and D trains to 145th Street or M3 bus to 141st Street. www.harlemschoolforthearts.org

☞ PROTECT: Harlem School of the Arts Closes

The renovations on the exterior of the Harlem School of the Arts building at 645 St. Nicholas Avenue might never finish in the near future. The New York Times reported this weekend that the art school that has helped form some of the great artistic talent in Harlem for over 45 years has shut down indefinitely. Apparently the school has been mismanaged recently and $500,000 will be needed for the beloved institution to open its doors again. A large charitable endowment or donation could possible save the art school but it's yet to be seen if any interested party will step in and save this part of Harlem's cultural past. Read more in the NY Times: LINK. Read more about the Harlem School of the Arts in our past post: LINK. Photo by Ulysses

☞ SEE: Ascension at Harlem School of the Arts

The Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) and its Visual Arts Department present Hank Paper’s Ascension: The Journey of John Coltrane, Thursday, January 14, 2010 through Tuesday, March 2, 2010. The opening reception takes place Thursday, January 21st from 6pm-8pm in the HSA Gathering Space (G-Space). As with all of HSA’s art exhibitions, Ascension is FREE!

In hopes of designation as a national landmark, The Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism provided Hank Paper a grant to photograph the Philadelphia home John Coltrane shared with his cousin, Mary Blair. More than thirty years after Coltrane’s death, Mr. Paper began the task of tracking the musician’s life from birth in North Carolina, through the beginnings of his career in Philadelphia, to his success in New York City. Ascension takes the viewer on a “photographic jazz evocation of a life.” To get to the Harlem School of the Arts, take the A, B, C, D and 1 train to 145th Street, when exiting the subway, walk south on the west side of Saint Nicholas Avenue. or take the M3 bus to 141st. www.harlemschoolofthearts.org

☞ LISTEN: A Day of Jazz at HSA

Saturday, May 28th, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM, A Day of Jazz Sponsored by The Harlem School of the Arts and JazzMobile, at The Harlem School of the Arts, 645 Saint Nicholas Avenue. The Harlem School of the Arts will host A Day of Jazz, co-sponsored by the JazzMobile. A Day of Jazz will feature workshops and performances by NEA’s Jazz Master Lee Konitz (alto sax), JazzMobile Clinician Paul West (bass), critically-acclaimed Dan Tepfer (piano), the Alabama School of Fine Arts Jazz Band and the HSA Jazz Band. FREE Admission: www.HSAnyc.org

☞ MEET: The Harlem Book Tour at HSA

Wednesday, February 23rd, 6:00 PM-8:00 PM at Harlem School of the Arts, 645 St. Nicholas Avenue (just north of 141st Street).  Author Jonathan Gill will be at the Harlem School of the Arts tonight to talk about the release of his comprehensive book on the 400 year history of Harlem.  There will also be a performance by Our Better Angels and the Harlem School of the Arts Students as part of the event. www.HarlemSchooloftheArts.org

☞ SEE: Hoofers Night at HSA

Hoofers Night, Friday, February 26th, performing at 6:00PM Friday, at The Harlem School of the Arts. The Harlem School of the Arts Join tap instructor, Joseph Webb in the HSA Gathering Space as he honors the legends of tap dance’s glorious past while opening the floor to the next generation of artists. This performance event and open floor is for tap dancers (from teens to seniors) and provides “hoofers” with a place to call their own. Suggested Donation $5. To get to the Harlem School of the Arts, take the A, B, C, D and 1 train to 145th Street, when exiting the subway, walk south on the west side of Saint Nicholas Avenue. or take the M3 bus to 141st. www.harlemschoolofthearts.org

SUITE HARLEM OCTET AT HARLEM SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

Harlem Bespoke: Another free event to check out over the weekend is the world premiere of Suite Harlem, an original composition for octet, written and dedicated to the Harlem School of the Arts by pianist, composer, and Jazz Road Creative Residency Recipient Adegoke Steve Colson.

☞ SEE: Around Harlem This Weekend

Saturday, January 14th,  9:00 AM-4:00 PM, The Harlem School of the Arts Spring Open House 2012, 645 St. Nicholas Avenue and 142nd Street. The Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) Spring Open House and Registration Day to introduce new students of all ages and their families to the wide array of quality arts programs offered in music, dance, theatre and visual arts: Photography, Teen Shakespeare, Early Childhood Program for ages 2 - 3, Musical Theatre classes, Ballet, Children's Choir, Adult Dance & Fitness classes and much more: LINK

Saturday, January 14th, from 10:00 AM-1:00 PM, Alexander Hamilton's 257th Birthday Commemoration at the Hamilton Grange, 414 West 141st Street.  The Parks Department will a special event this weekend with a living historian portraying Alexander Hamilton to answer all questions about his life: LINK

Saturday, January 14, 2012 - 4:00pm - 6:00pm, Daisy Bates: First Lady of Little Rock screen at the Schomburg Center, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Boulevard/Lenox Avenue. After the screening, join filmmaker Sharon La Cruise for a “talk back” with the audience. Free! Call (212) 491-2040 or RSVP online: LINK

Sunday, January 15th, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Works in Progress | "I Have a Dream" Collage Portraits at The Studio Museum in Harlem, 144 West 125th Street. Paying homage to artist Romare Bearden and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., The Laundromat Project presents through its Works in Progress program a portrait workshop that asks participants to employ Bearden's iconic collage technique to create a portrait of the person that they aspire to be. Using some of Dr. King's quotes as a source of inspiration, completed portraits will integrate color, xerox copies, magazines, and textiles to creatively illustrate a figurative image that includes the qualities each participant wishes to embody in 2012. This workshop is free and open to the public: LINK

☞ INTRODUCING: The Harlem Book Tour

Jonathan Gill’s HARLEM: The Four Hundred Year History from Dutch Village to Capital of Black America is the first book ever to tell Harlem’s story in its entirety. Sweeping and richly detailed, Gill’s HARLEM manages to distill 400 years of fascinating history—from the arrival of the first Europeans on America’s shores to the political struggles, joyful music, and economic traumas of the 20th century—into an eminently readable work overflowing with captivating characters.  Here are the Harlem dates for this month's book tour with the author.

Saturday, February 19, noon – 2:00 PM
Harlem School of the Arts
645 Saint Nicholas Avenue, Tel: 212 926 4100
www.harlemschoolofthearts.org

Wednesday, February 23, 6:00pm – 8:00 PM
Harlem School of the Arts
645 Saint Nicholas Avenue, Tel: 212 926 4100.
www.harlemschoolofthearts.org

Thursday, February 24, 6:00pm – 8:00 PM
Taller Boricua At the Julia de Burgos Latino Cultural Center
1680 Lexington Avenue, Tel: 212 831 4333
 www.tallerboricua.org

Friday, February 25, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Aloft Harlem
2296 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, Tel: 212 749 4000
www.AloftHotels.com/Harlem

☞ INTRODUCING: HSA on Project Runway

Thursday, September 1st at 9:00 PM on Liftetime. Emmy-nominated television show, Project Runway will feature The Harlem School of the Arts on the upcoming episode, "The Art of the Matter". Competing designers are paired with HSA Visual Arts students to create original artwork, inspiring their latest garment challenge.

The episode will include Host/Fashion Consultant, Tim Gunn, President & CEO, Yvette L. Campbell, Director of Visual Arts, Byron M. McCray, as well as students from the HSA Visual Arts Department. Additional airdates for this episode include, Friday, September 2nd, 1:00 AM, Saturday, September 3rd, 11:30 AM

This year, the HSA Visual Arts Department will be expanding its curriculum to include Fashion Illustration, a vital component to the creation process of fashion. Participation in Project Runway creates awareness of all program offerings in all four disciplines, Music, Dance, Theater, and Visual Arts, all under one roof. Harlem School of the Arts is located at 645 St. Nicholas Avenue just north of 141st Street.

☞ INTRODUCING: Richard Rodgers Grant Winners

The City Parks Foundation and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation has announced the winners of the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater performing arts grant, a one-time $25,000 award intended to attract premier arts presenters to produce works at the recently constructed Richard Rodgers Amphitheater at Marcus Garvey Park in historic Harlem.

Thirty grant applications were submitted for consideration and vetted by an esteemed peer panel of arts presenters and community leaders from five Harlem-based institutions: The Apollo Theater; the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance; Harlem School of the Arts; Harlem Stage / Aaron Davis Hall; and the Harlem Community Development Corporation.

Five grant applicants of the pool were selected on the merits of their proposed project and submitted work samples and each finalist will be awarded $5,000 to present works at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater during the summer of 2012 or 2013.  Winners selected for the season include Jazzmobile, the Museum for African Art, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, The Mafrika Music Festival and The Classical Theatre of Harlem.

☞ REVIVE: Opus 118 Harlem School of Music

The west side's Harlem School of the Arts overcame a major financial crises this year and Opus 118, the Harlem School of Music on the east side, faces the same fund raising issues to keep it operating. The above New York Post clip from last month provides the history and financial challenges that the school must overcome to stay open for the rest of 2010 (also shown are clips from the 1999 movie, Music of the Heart, which was based on the story of Opus 118 founder, Roberta Guaspari). Right now, a quarter of $500,000 needed to keep the institution going has been raised through various concerts and the final deadline is at the end of June. Go to www.opus118.org to donate: LINK

☞ INTRODUCING: Dorothy Maynor Place

After almost closing last year and finally restructuring to become financially sound, the Harlem School of the Arts now appears to be moving forward for the future these days. Yesterday Mayor Bloomberg signed a bill making St. Nicholas Avenue between 141st and 145th Streets officially Dorothy Maynor Place. The school founded by African-American soprano Dorothy Maynor originally met at the basement of St. James Presbyterian Church at St. Nicholas and 141st  Street in 1964 and has since opened up a facility and theater just a few blocks north. By the time Ms. Maynor retired in 1979, the original class of 12 enrolled students grew to 1,000 total and the Harlem institution has since empowered many more local students through teaching of the arts. More details on the Harlem School of the Arts can be found on the organization's main site: www.HSAnyc.org