NEW YORK.-Board Dedicates $10 Million to the Drawing Center for a Lower Manhattan Home The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation announced at a meeting of its Board of Directors today that they will be taking applications for the first round of grants that will allocate $35 million in cultural enhancement funds. The LMDC Board also appointed a five member advisory panel to assist in awarding these grants, and announced that up to $10 million in cultural enhancement funds will be used for the creation of the Drawing Center at a new downtown facility.

“In May, the LMDC along with Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg dedicated resources to strengthening existing and creating new cultural facilities in Lower Manhattan. Today we are happy to name the members of the advisory panel that will begin the process of allocating these cultural enhancement funds,” said LMDC Board Chairman, John C. Whitehead. “Our panelists bring a level of expertise and leadership in the arts that will ensure that these funds will make a vibrant and positive impact on the future of culture in Lower Manhattan.”

“As Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg have stressed, culture is a priority for downtown’s revitalization,” said Stefan Pryor, President of the LMDC. “Our previous allocation of $50 million for the Performing Arts Center along with this $10 million pledge to help the Drawing Center build a new home downtown and the additional grants we will be awarding from the $35 million in cultural enhancement funds demonstrates our strong commitment to the arts. And it furthers our efforts of transforming the Lower Manhattan community into a 24/7 community to work, live and visit.”

“We are tremendously pleased by LMDC’s generosity and commitment to help the Drawing Center find its new home. This news will be very helpful as we continue in our relocation efforts downtown,” said Drawing Center President George Negroponte. “The LMDC has time and again demonstrated to us that they are serious about helping us develop as an institution and that they are serious about the arts and culture having a role in the redevelopment of Lower Manhattan.”

Following the announcement at today’s board meeting, the LMDC will seek the assistance of community and arts organizations to help publicize the grants. Applications for funding, a link to submit questions and additional information will be available on the LMDC’s website at www.RenewNYC.com on Monday, November 14, 2005. Potential applicants can also call (212) 587-9327. New applications and all requested supporting materials must be received by December 22, 2005 in order to be considered for funding in this initial round of grants.

Applications will be reviewed by LMDC staff for completeness and compliance with guidelines, and then be sent to the advisory committee for review. It is anticipated that the LMDC Board will begin making award announcements in early 2006.

The following people have agreed to a request by the LMDC Board of Directors to serve as the Cultural Fund Advisory Committee and will recommend applicants for funding to the Board:

Richard Schwartz, Chairman of the New York State Council on the Arts: Mr. Schwartz has served as a trustee of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the National Museum Services Board, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Saint Gaudens National Historic site in Cornish, New Hampshire, the Westchester Council for the Arts, Historic Hudson, the Hudson River Valley Greenway Council, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, as well as a trustee at Cornell University, Fairfield University and Mount Sinai Medical Center. Chairman Schwartz is also a Commissioner of the National Museum of American Art, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University, a member of the Board of the New York State Council on the Arts and a member of the Visiting Committee of American Paintings and Sculpture of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Kate D. Levin, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs: Ms. Levin is charged with overseeing, sustaining and promoting New York City’s cultural life and its economic impact on the five boroughs, coordinating cultural policy for the City’s approximately 1,400 art and cultural institutions and organizations. Prior to her appointment with the City, Ms. Levin was an Assistant Professor of English and Theater at the City College of New York CUNY and Associate Director of the Simon H. Rifkind Center for Humanities and the Arts CCNY. Ms. Levin is a downtown resident.

Tom Finkelpearl, Executive Director, The Queens Museum of Art: Mr. Finkelpearl has worked as a curator and program manager at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, New York, Director of the Percent for Art Program at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and Executive Director of Program at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. He was appointed to his current post as the executive director of the Queens Museum of Art in 2002. Based on his public art experience and further research, he authored the book Dialogues in Public Art in 2000. Mr. Finkelpearl makes his home in Lower Manhattan.

Eddy Bayardelle, Director of Global Philanthropy, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.: Mr. Bayardelle also serves as Secretary of the Merrill Lynch Foundation. Mr. Bayardelle is the former Superintendent of Hempstead Public Schools in Long Island and former Executive Director of the Division of Special Education for New York City Public Schools. Mr. Bayardelle is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Coalition of Haitian Rights.

Anita Contini, Senior Vice President and Director of Corporate and Public Affairs, CIT Group Inc.: Ms. Contini currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of the Alliance for the Arts and on the boards of The Estate Project for Artists with Aids, The American Committee for St. Petersburg, Russia and is an active member of a number of organizations including Art Table, Architects Institute of America (AIA), New York. She was the Founder of the Non-for-Profit award winning arts organization, Creative Time, and has received a number of awards for distinguished public service from the Municipal Arts Society, Hofstra University, American Institute of Architects, New York, and the Downtown Lower Manhattan Business Association. Ms. Contini is a former Vice President for Memorial, Cultural and Civic programs for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and resides downtown.

“We are grateful to the individuals on this advisory panel for assisting the LMDC with this important effort,” said Stefan Pryor. “Through this process we will identify cultural projects that have the potential to impact our area positively and over the long-term. We are looking for groups that will enhance the cultural fabric of Lower Manhattan for future generations.”