YANY Hosts Urban Arts Education Panel at Sony Wonder Lab Today

Young Audiences New York is hosting a panel discussion on the cognitive dissonance of living in a city that is arguably the cultural center of the world, yet many of its public school students have little or no contact with either the city's cultural wealth nor the opportunity to have the arts included in their education. The breakout session is part of the Young Audiences 60th Anniversary National Conference taking place in New York City April 25-27, 2013. It is titled, "Abundance in a Time of Scarcity: Creative Solutions for Urban Arts Education."

In attendance: Moderator KAREN FINNEY (MSNBC political analyst and weekend anchor), Principal George Young (P.S. 46 in Harlem), Queens Councilman RUBEN WILLS (District 28th), major NYC cultural institution officialSTEPHANIE HUGHLEY (Vice President, Education & Humanities, Brooklyn Academy Of Music), innovative philanthropy advisor JOHN MACINTOSH (SeaChange Capital Partners), and learning/technology executive JULIE EVANS (CEO of Project Tomorrow).

The panel is set for today, April 26, 2013 at 1:30pm in the Sony Wonder Lab (off Atrium of Sony Corporate Headquarters), 550 Madison Avenue (at 56th Street), New York, NY.

In addition to the daytime panel discussion, Young Audiences New York, along with The High School of Hospitality Management is presenting an evening event on Friday, April 26, 2013 from 6:30-8:30 pm as the culminating event of a YANY residency with The American Place Theatre's Literature to Life 2.0 program.

The performance, entitled, "Looking Inside Out: A Celebration of Literature to Life," is a series of dramatic scenes and monologues exploring the themes of power, identity and personal choices featuring 9th and 10th grade students who participated in three Literature to Life stage presentations and workshops facilitated by Master Teaching Artists. This program is made possible with the generous support of The Ford Foundation. The event takes place at The High School of Hospitality Management, 525 W. 50th Street (Bet 10th Ave. &11th Ave.) New York, NY.

Young Audiences New York (YANY) captivates, educates, and inspires children through the transformative power of the arts. With an emphasis on collaboration, YANY partners with New York City schools to design a customized blend of residencies, performances, family activities, and professional development that will best meet the needs of their communities. YANY believes that arts education fills a critical need in our schools' curriculum, one that creatively engages students and prepares them for a rapidly changing world full of challenges and opportunities. As YANY embarks on its next 60 years, the organization is extending its reach through a strategic alliance with The American Place Theatre (APT). This partnership will bring APT's award-winning Literature to Life program to even more students in New York City and nationwide.