Arts Alive Long Island, a new month-long island-wide arts and culture festival, is slated to kick off Monday with the first in a series of events billed as rivaling New York City’s art scene.
The festival will feature events stretching from Nassau County to the East End of Suffolk County. The event, which officials say will be a new annual tradition, debuts in October for the start of National Arts and Humanities month.
“It is important that we promote our arts and this is a great way to bring our residents and those from outside our boarders here to experience the great talent and culture that we have here,” Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano told reporters at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in East Garden City on Thursday.
With an arts Mecca like NYC for a next-door neighbor, LI is often overlooked by patrons of the arts. But Arts Alive Long Island will remind the world that LI also has deep roots in the arts.
The festival will feature more than 30 events, including artist receptions with local cuisine, discounts at participating restaurants and free programs for families.
Scheduled events include an Afternoon with Jane Monheit at the USDAN Center for the Creative and Performing Arts on Oct. 14 as well as an Acoustic Evening with Blue Öyster Cult at the Landmark on Main Street on Oct. 27.
“Arts Alive LI has something for everyone,” said Theresa Statz-Smith, executive director of the Long Island Arts Alliance, which is presenting the event along with Bethpage Federal Credit Union and the Long Island Community Foundation.
“I truly believe that thousands will discover, as they journey to exhibition spaces, museums, theaters, historic venues, festivals and other gathering places, why Long Island is one of the strongest cultural destinations in the country,” she said.
Partners who helped organize the event said promoting the arts on LI will transcend the venues where each event is held.
“We think it’s good for business and ultimately we think it’s good for the quality of life on Long Island,” said Kirk Kordeleski, president and CEO of Bethpage Federal Credit Union.
For more information on Arts Alive Long Island and their full calendar of events visit artsaliveli.org.
