Real estate firm recognized for creative place-making around the globe
(November 19, 2015 | New York, NY) In recognition of the significant contributions Brookfield has provided to the livability and vibrancy of New York City for the past 25 years, the Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) named Brookfield as the 2015 Livable City Award honoree. The award was presented today at MAS’s “Global Cities at the Crossroads” symposium that explored the impact of investments by the corporate real estate sector toward art and culture.
Across ten cities for nearly three decades, Arts Brookfield has created free arts and cultural programming that has improved the lives of millions of people. Brookfield plays an integral role in stimulating the development of the neighborhoods in which their buildings exist by cultivating relationships with artists who then create works and installations that inhabit the company’s public spaces.
Among the 400 performances, exhibitions, and installations Arts Brookfield has presented globally in 2015 are these New York City highlights:
Soft Spin by Heather Nicol – A large visual and sound installation in the iconic Winter Garden commissioned as part of the grand opening of Brookfield Place New York. The work featured six large-scale fabric forms gracefully swirling overhead, emanating the sounds of voices in song. Curvaceous hemlines, sundrenched bursts of color, and playful tunes beckoned viewers to look up and embrace the unexpected.
“I Am Not the Stranger You Think I Am” – Acclaimed theater designer Christine Jones commissioned new plays by seven Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights including Craig Lucas and Lynn Nottage exclusively for Arts Brookfield. All of the plays were written under the title “I Am Not the Stranger You Think I Am” and the world premieres toured three Brookfield buildings to enormously positive reviews and huge public turnout.
Low Down Hudson Music Fest – Celebrating rock, roots, and blues outdoors at Brookfield Place on the Hudson River, the two-night 2015 program featured OAR, The Word, Wood Brothers, and Ryan Bingham, and drew more than 20,000 attendees. Previous years featured B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.
“Arts Brookfield has created a unique platform for creative place-making, and we are delighted to honor them with the Livable City Award,” said Mary Rowe, Executive Vice President of MAS. “Brookfield brings the creativity of artists to public spaces. From New York to Perth, Brookfield is proud to support the arts and to offer unparalleled access for installations, performances, and the spontaneous, unexpected social interactions that draw so many people to live and work in cities in the first place.”
“Brookfield is honored to receive this award. For us, creating space for art and expression is an important aspect of corporate citizenship as well as a smart business decision in terms of providing a unique work and life environment,” said Dennis Friedrich, Chief Executive Officer, Global Office Division, Brookfield Property Partners. “We look forward to welcoming an all-new venue for Arts Brookfield’s constellation of programs with the opening of Manhattan West in a few short years.”
“American Express’s headquarters has been at Brookfield Place since 1986 and Arts Brookfield has helped to make this location a home,” said Timothy J. McClimon, President, American Express Foundation. “Through high quality art exhibitions and live performances, our employees have the chance to not just work at Brookfield Place, but also come together with families from the neighborhood over a shared appreciation for the arts.”
About Arts Brookfield
Arts Brookfield invigorates public spaces through the presentation of free cultural experiences in Brookfield’s premier buildings around the world. By commissioning, producing, and presenting world-class works of art, Arts Brookfield supports creativity and innovation in the fields of music, dance, theater, film, and visual art.
About the Municipal Art Society of New York
Founded in 1893, the Municipal Art Society is five years older than the consolidated City of New York itself. Over more than 120 years of history, MAS has worked to inspire, educate, and empower New Yorkers to engage in the betterment of our city. Through three core campaign areas, MAS protects New York’s legacy spaces, encourages intentional planning and urban development, and fosters complete neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information, visit mas.org.
The Livable City Award
Through the Livable City Award, MAS honors the extraordinary organizations that make New York the vibrant, creative mecca that it is. It is the organization’s belief that their honorees’ commitment to addressing urban challenges and enriching the city’s cultural environment makes New York a more interesting, dynamic, and desirable place to live.
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