Wheelchair Art at Please Touch During Art-Reach Day

Check out these wheelchair artists who will be joining Art-Reach's artist roster very soon!
Art-Reach Day at Please Touch

PNC Arts Alive Family Day at the Opera this Weekend

Looking for fun, free weekend activities?  Be sure to check out PNC Arts Alive Family Day at the Opera.

On Saturday, February 12, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., the Opera Company of Philadelphia (OCP) opens its doors to area families for the PNC Arts Alive Family Day at the Opera, a chance to journey behind the scenes of the Company’s upcoming production of Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet (February 11-20) and to learn about the magic of opera. From face-painting and stage combat demonstrations to a fashion show and a recital, this fun-filled day offers something for everyone.

Attendees will be permitted to tread the stage of Philadelphia’s historic opera house and explore Romeo’s set, visit the stars’ dressing rooms, sit in the orchestra pit, and participate in engaging interactive sessions in the Academy’s Rehearsal Hall and its stunning ballroom.

By allowing young people an in-depth look into the world of opera, OCP hopes to provide a unique understanding of the art form and its creation, allowing hands-on participation in several genres that are integral to opera and opportunities to talk to the artists who create the performances.  Read more here.

What do Miss America & Art-Reach Have in Common?

Talented percussionist and Art-Reach In-Facility artist Tony Mascara wrote and recorded the music for Miss New Jersey- Ashleigh Udalovas’s talent portion for the Miss America Pageant happening this week in Vegas! You can cheer her on tomorrow night (Saturdays, Jan. 15th) at 9pm (her talent performance will only be televised if she makes it into the top 15, but our fingers are crossed!) and here's a sneak peak of the music...

Julia Blaukopf Featured in EducationWorks’ December Newsletter

Need some Snow Day reading material?  Check out this recent article featuring Julia Blaukopf’s in-facility session at EducationWorks.

  
Also, be sure to check out the new Art-Reach Spotlight article featuring Julia here.

Matt Bryan Promoted to Program Director

Art-Reach is pleased to announce that Matt Bryan has been promoted to Program Director. In his previous role as Program Manager, Matt oversaw day-to-day operations of the Ticket and In-Facility Programs. Over the past year, Matt’s focus has turned strongly to include developing strong relationships with members both with potential organizations as well as guiding current members in the best ways to use the services Art-Reach provides.  Matt has thrived with this charge, empowering members to think creatively and utilize all resources available to them, and we are proud to announce that his title is officially being upgraded to include this responsibility in an ongoing capacity. 

Matt joined the Art-Reach team in February 2007, following a successful internship with the organization. Now closing in on his fourth successful year with the company, we are thrilled with his compassion and commitment to ensure that the arts remain accessible to everyone. Please help me congratulate Matt Bryan on his newly enhanced role with Art-Reach. Together, Matt will allow us all to raise our bar on service and make 2011 a phenomenal year!

Stephanie Borton, Associate Director

Highlights from the 19th Annual Jazz Brunch & Silent Auction

The PECO building announces our event! [Photo by Diane Engler]

Event Co-Chairs Karen Feeney and Mia Meloni

NBC10's Dawn Timmeney presents the award to Bancroft

PECO's Jeff Gordon presents the award to Jean Canfield, with Art-Reach Executive Director Michael Norris.

Linda and Peter from Bancroft dance the afternoon away.

Guests participate in some intense bidding in the silent auction

Our fabulous staff and ambassadors - Thank you!

*Photos at the Brunch were taken by Michael Nathan - http://www.nathanweddings.com/

Happy Brunch Week!

Here at Art-Reach the band is in full swing. With less than one week left until the 19th Annual Jazz Brunch, I’ve had to enter the stage, score in hand and ready to blow. Nevertheless I feel confident. With the way these seasoned players get down, the brunch is sure to be a hit. Patrons will be eager to place their bids just as well as move their feet.


Folami is typing away to keep track of it all.

By the way allow me to introduce myself. My name is Folami Islam and I’m Art-Reach’s new Fall intern. Working on an auction of this magnitude has been really exciting and upbeat much like our theme for this year’s event. Cool cats Rachel Robbins and Nicole Oidick have made asking for donations seem like a breeze. And it shows. Just like notes off the page, items have been coming off the shelves constantly to be reorganized and arranged to accommodate more. The boxes in the copy room have been put on standby and noted not to be recycled. Well at least not in the usual manner.

So far my job in this ensemble has been a bit tedious but all the while rewarding. Much attention is paid to documenting all donations received and filing it correctly. Item descriptions are being cleverly crafted to appear in the program books. Although seemingly minute, the work really contributes to the overall success of the auction which in turn helps the community Art-Reach serves.



Rachel shows off some fabulous auction items!

To give it to you straight no chaser, the donations are pretty mind-blowing. What’s even more amazing are the companies, sponsors, artists and individuals who are making this year’s event possible. Even though a member of “the band”, I still find myself in awe of the things that make their way on stage. Beautiful paintings and hand-made crafts, relaxing vacation packages and really cool exhibits are all on the bill. Some players that have contributed in the past are coming back full force, sharp and with added material. Newbies like the Barnes Foundation, which is one of my personal favorites, are sure to please. 

Here at the office we definitely have Jazz Brunch fever and are certainly burning the midnight oil to create an unforgettable event. And with all the labor of love put in it’s sure to be smooth sailing here on out.

-Folami Islam