Dear Friends of the Art League,

There’s a lot going on at the Art League. Let’s get started and I’ll tell you all about it!

To begin, for a window of time between now and July 15, a golden opportunity has been offered by Board President Harlan J. Fischer and his wife Olivia to match donations up to a total of $25,000 for the spring/summer 2019 Signature Gift Campaign. This awesome gift means your donation will count twice as much and the Art League will double its results.

You can donate online at www.artleagueli.org or call Bobbie Janowitz at 631 462 5400 x 227 or just stop by. Your financial contribution shows how much you understand and appreciate the role the Art League plays in nurturing the arts on Long Island. Thanks in advance for putting this on your “to do” list to write a check or call Bobbie with your credit card before July 15.

The quarterly “Jazz in the Gallery” concerts with musicians from the Jazz Loft in Stony Brook are a big hit with jazz lovers and concertgoers. Tickets are on sale now for the next concert on May 9th at 7 pm in the gallery. Don’t miss “The Great American Songbook” performance by the Richie Iacona Trio, with Mike Hall, Tom Manuel, and featuring Madeline Kole on vocals. If you’re a small business owner and you’d like to support the Art League in a unique way, think about sponsoring a jazz concert or concert series. Your company will be prominently recognized in all print materials and on the evening of the concert we will announce your support to a very large audience.

The Resident Artist Membership Program (RAMP) is going into its 2nd year. Fifteen artists have applied to this highly competitive 2019-2020 program. Only 6 candidates will be selected to participate for one year beginning in June. Resident Artists receive 50 hours of free classes each semester in exchange for volunteer hours and an opportunity to teach a workshop at the end of the program.

The Art League’s ceramics program has the largest demand for classes among adults and children. With increasing enrollment, a faculty staff of 5 – 6 instructors and studio assistants, teaching 7 days per week, it was time to reorganize and create a department of its own. Puneeta Mittal, ceramic artist, painter, adjunct professor and former board member with an MFA from Long Island University will lead the charge as the first Art League Department Head of ceramics along with Amy Tischler as Operations Manager. The bigger picture is to grow and expand the ceramics program to a Ceramics Center. The Center will be a place for ceramic artists and other ceramic programs to collaborate, share ideas, attend seminars and workshops, and experience the full breadth and depth of working in clay.

Finally, we’ve achieved a great deal in the past 12 months, thanks to you, the NYS Grant and an energized board……….here’s just some of the things completed and where resources have been committed.

• Lighted exterior billboard with artwork signage
• Energy saving and safety enhancing LED parking and building lights
• New fire safety and surveillance systems
• Updated data communication, website and registration sites
• Three new, environmentally friendly HVAC units

With all this activity and investment in infrastructure more is needed to ensure the future of the Art League. Plans in the near immediate future include increasing on-site parking, major roof repairs and two more environmentally friendly HVAC units.

I hope you’re as inspired as we are at the Art League and sense our gratitude to Olivia and Harlan for making it possible to double our midyear results. With your support we will realize the full benefits of this matching gift campaign. Thank you in advance for giving as generously as you can. I will keep you informed of the progress. Please call me with any questions at 631 462 5400 x 224.

Warmest Regards,

Charlee Miller

Executive Director

Art League of Long Island  

Dear Friends of the Art League,

I thought I’d make this a newsy letter to bring you up to date on what’s happening around the Art League. As 2018 comes to a close I want to personally thank you for your generosity, support and passion for the Art League. Your contributions in 2018 helped us launch the development work on the Art League’s database management system and new website. Both of these major projects are underway because of your support.

You may not realize the impact you have when you make a contribution to the Art League. Whether it’s earmarked for the website or to keep fine art classes affordable, you are making a difference. The other day a student reminded me that when she is at the Art League doing what she loves, it melts away every other problem in her life. That’s the kind of effect the Art League has on its members, students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Ceramic students are signing praises about the Art League’s new free open studios for pottery students. This is just what they needed to have time to work independently on their creations. The Art League’s ceramics program is the best on Long Island, so much so, that we have outgrown our studio space. We are excited about the 2018 Annual Appeal Challenge to raise $15,000 to renovate and add a second ceramic studio. The studio will need worktables, tools, equipment, two new pottery wheels and a new kiln. Some carpentry work and painting will be needed to add shelves and create space for a glaze room. With your support again, we will meet the challenge goal and be on the way to get the work started before year-end.

The new Resident Artist Membership Program (RAMP) is worth celebrating! RAMP was launched in June 2018. It was created and designed by Andrea Manning, Arts Education Program Coordinator to provide artists the opportunity to indulge themselves in advanced studio art classes at no charge, free studio time and the opportunity to teach a workshop at the end of the 12-month program. It’s the next best thing to actually residing at an art center with even more benefits. Artists give back to the Art League by volunteering at events and receptions, proofreading and editing and by providing graphic design services. The 2019 Resident Artist Membership Program will be open to new applicants in February 2019. Only six qualified applicants will be selected from this highly sought after competitive program.

More good news! Thanks go to Senator Carl L. Marcillino for sponsoring the Art League for a New York State Economic Development Assistance Program Grant for $125,000. The Art League will begin work on Capital Improvements for the building in first quarter 2019. The first three major improvement projects include WiFi and network infrastructure and communication system upgrades. The fire alarm control panel and surveillance equipment will be replaced to improve safety and security. Other major improvements include replacing 3 HVAC units and installing 13 LED parking lot lights. The office and computer lab will receive 10 new computers and an additional circuit breaker board will be installed. We couldn’t be more grateful for this grant coming at the right time.

Once again, wishing you a happy, healthy and safe holiday season. I hope you’re as pleased as we are about the progress and programs going on at the Art League. Your support is invaluable to the sustainability of the Art League and we know we can count on you.

Thank you again for your support. Please feel free to donate online or call us at (631) 462-5400 x227.

Best,

Charlee Miller

Executive Director

Art League of Long Island