On Monday, March 30, 2009, NYU Wagner student organizations The Student Network Exploring Arts and Culture, The Wagner Policy Alliance, and The Urban Planning Student Association will host three noted experts in a panel discussion entitled “Culture in Community Development: Downtown Brooklyn and Newark.” Dr. Robert Curvin, Tamara Greenfield and Katie Dixon will convene at 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Rudin Center for Civic Dialogue, Puck Building 2nd floor, 295 Lafayette St, New York N.Y., following breakfast at 8 a.m.

This discussion will analyze the impact of cultural institutions on surrounding neighborhoods through two lenses: from an established institution developing new partnerships to create a cultural district; and from a new performing arts center built to address its decayed surroundings, this discussion will consider the role of the arts in both strategies toward community development. How have stakeholders, from elected officials to neighborhood allies, used the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in reviving local communities? In addition, we will speak to leaders of the East 4th Street Cultural District to analyze the impact of the Fourth Arts Block on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.

Panelists Include:

  • Dr. Robert Curvin is the Board Member of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center
  • Tamara Greenfield is the Executive Director of Fourth Arts Block (FAB). She also has co-founded and is on the Board of the grassroots Dancenow/NYC festival. She received her Master’s in Urban Planning from Hunter College and B.A. in Art History and International Development from Washington University in St. Louis.
  • Katie Dixon is the Director of Planning & Development for the BAM Cultural District. She holds a Bachelor’s degree with Distinction in Architecture from Yale University and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University.

To RSVP visit: http://wagner.nyu.edu/events/community-03-30-2009.


About the Wagner Policy Alliance (WPA)
Wagner Policy Alliance (WPA): the WPA seeks to foster critical thinking, dialogue and debate around policy issues. WPA links individuals and groups within Wagner, NYU and beyond. By bringing issues, ideas and voices together and facilitating meaningful discussion, WPA builds a broad, vibrant policy community. About the Student Network Exploring Arts and Culture (SNEAC)
Student Network Exploring Arts and Culture (SNEAC): The Student Network Exploring Arts and Culture (SNEAC) is a student group at the Wagner School, NYU’s public policy school. SNEAC’s mission is to promote discourse on domestic and international cultural policy as well as arts administration within the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. We aspire to link scholars, students, advocates and professionals from around the NYU community and the vibrant arts and cultural industries of New York City. About the Urban Planning Student Association (UPSA)
Urban Planning Student Association (UPSA): The Urban Planning Student Association (UPSA) is a student-run organization whose mission is to help students develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of various planning issues. We provide quality lectures and programming which reflect the interests of students while introducing them to new ideas. UPSA also strives to improve and raise the profile of Wagner’s Urban Planning Program within the school and among other planning schools. UPSA welcomes all students to participate in the organization, and seeks to collaborate with other student groups to provide the best possible opportunities for all Wagner students.

Press Contact

Robert Polner
Robert Polner
(212) 998-2337