Mayor Jim Kenney and the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy Celebrate Arts Education and the 2016 Arts Education Fair with Blick Art Materials

Philadelphia – Mayor Jim Kenney and the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy will celebrate the launch of the 2016 Arts Education Fair in the the City Hall Courtyard on Friday, September 30, 4:30PM.

For the third year, on behalf of the official sponsor of the 7^th Annual  A+ Art School District of Philadelphia Exhibit at City Hall, Blick’s CEORobert Buchsbaum will present a $10,500 donation in support of arts education, the School District of Philadelphia art teachers and the talented young artists featured in the exhibition.

Mayor Jim Kenney spoke of the larger impact of the ongoing support from Blick Art Materials on the citizens of Philadelphia.  “Arts education is not a luxury, but a necessity to build not only well-rounded students, but Philadelphians that are open-minded and appreciate the arts and the cultures of others around them,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “It is heartening to know that a company such as Blick Art Materials recognizes how important it is to support our art teachers and students in gaining access to the most fundamental building blocks of this art education. The City of Philadelphia thanks them for this generous contribution.”

“Blick is pleased to continue its support of the A+ Art exhibit and the talented students and teachers chosen to represent the School District of Philadelphia,” said Robert Buchsbaum, Chief Executive Officer of Blick Art Materials. “At Blick, we believe the basics our students are being taught today will not only inspire a lifelong appreciation of art, but give them tools to pursue careers in the arts and many other disciplines. We couldn’t be more proud of our role in encouraging these students to create, innovate, and inspire others.”

Mayor Kenney will also announce the launch of the first expanded 2016 Arts Education Fair at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. This will be the first year that the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy will be partnering with the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance to expand the Arts Education Fair that will feature over 40 arts organizations from throughout the city of Philadelphia, including the resident companies of the Kimmel Center.

“Philadelphia’s arts organization will have the opportunity to directly connect with the teachers and coordinators that want to bring the arts into their schools and communities,” said Chief Cultural Officer Kelly Lee. “The 2016 Arts Education Fair will build these bridges and enable Philadelphians of all ages to experience and to learn about the arts through these programs and initiatives.”

About City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy

The mission of the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is to support and promote arts, culture and the creative industries; and to develop partnerships and coordinate efforts that weave arts, culture and creativity into the economic and social fabric of the City. For more information on Creative Philadelphia, visit: www.CreativePHL.org, Facebook.com/CreativePHL and on Twitter and Instagram @CreativePHL.

About Blick Art Materials

Founded in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1911, Blick Art Materials is one of the largest and oldest providers of art supplies in the United States, with 72 retail stores nationwide. Its products cater to the full spectrum of artists — from the youngest child ready to scribble with his or her first crayon to well known, gallery-represented professionals. The company’s extensive selection, competitive prices, and superior customer service make Blick the best choice for art educators, students, artists, architects, designers, hobbyists, or anyone requiring quality art materials for work or pleasure. A long-time advocate of art education in the U.S., Blick also provides support of scholastic, collegiate, and professional art shows, both financially and through a variety of materials that emphasize the benefits of art education. Blick also supports the communities in which it does business by sponsoring in-store events, local schools, art leagues, and community groups across the country. Visit www.dickblick.com for more information.

About Art in City Hall 

Art in City Hall brings the people’s art to the people’s building, establishing a presence for the visual arts in one of the city’s most important civic spaces, and provides space for the local cultural community to display their work. City Hall showcases juried exhibits of professional artists, local artists, arts and cultural institutions, community organizations and schools that utilize the arts in their programming. Encompassing a variety of mediums, techniques, and subjects, the program is committed to presenting a diversity of ideas and artistic explorations. For additional information on Art In City Hall, visit: www.CreativePHL.org, Facebook.com/CreativePHL and on Twitter and Instagram @CreativePHL.

About the 2016 Arts Education Fair

The Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, in partnership with the Kimmel Center of Performing Arts, and the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, will launch the first expanded Arts Education Fair at the Kimmel Center on November 16, 2016. The 2016 Arts Education Fair will connect teaching artists and arts education programs and organizations from throughout the city of Philadelphia with teachers, librarians, and managers of recreation and senior centers interest in including arts education and instruction in their program offerings. For more information visit: www.CreativePHL.org, Facebook.com/CreativePHL and on Twitter and Instagram @CreativePHL.