Brooklyn's Progress
April 2003

By the City of New York, Office of the Mayor

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg recently announced the appointment of 21 members to the Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission, a cultural advocacy body mandated by the City Charter that has advised the Mayor, Cultural Affairs Commissioner, and other City officials on critical cultural issues for over 25 years.  The Commission, whose new members met On Feb. 24 for the first time, will function as a “working board” to assist the Department of Cultural Affairs in serving New York City’s non-profit cultural community, providing assistance and advocacy in several areas of critical need affecting cultural groups.  The Commission, whose members represent the broad diversity and strength of the City’s cultural community, will be chaired by Agnes Gund.   

“New York City is home to a creative and vibrant cultural community that is second to none,” Mayor Bloomberg said.  “Thanks to the vast knowledge, vision, and talents of the members of the Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission, the City will enhance its ability to assist the cultural community, particularly non-profit organizations.  These accomplished artists, administrators, and supporters will provide invaluable services and expertise to both large and small arts organizations, and vigorously promote the cultural vitality of New York City.”

“Culture is the ultimate as well as the ideal public-private partnership in New York City,” Commissioner Levin said.  “Having such a smart, thoughtful and accomplished group donating their time to assist the agency will be immensely beneficial in our efforts to promote and preserve the value of culture for all New Yorkers.”

“I am honored to serve the Mayor and the Department of Cultural Affairs in this capacity,” Agnes Gund said.  “There are a lot of challenges facing the cultural community at present, but there are also more opportunities than ever to effect lasting change in fostering collaborations between groups, attracting new audiences and new support, and helping school children to develop a life-long relationship with the arts.”

The members of the Commission were selected based on their ability to contribute to four key agenda areas: management and board development, arts education, marketing and outreach, and capital assistance.  As stated in the City Charter, the Commission must have no fewer than 15 and no more than 21 members who will serve on a staggered schedule.  The Commission’s members are:

Brooklyn Chamber Chairman Alan H. Fishman and Brooklyn Chamber Member Raymond J. McGuire are among the 21 appointees.  Other Commission members are:  Eddy Bayardelle, Charles C. Bergman, Laurie Blitzer, Daniel Brodsky, Amy Chin, Chuck Close, Vishakha N. Desai, Ph.D., Evangeline Douris, Robert Esnard, Dolores M. Fernandez, Ph.D., Susan K. Freedman, Agnes Gund, Michael Lynne, Judith O. Rubin, David M. Sable, Robert Soros, Laurie Tisch Sussman, Jeanette Sarkisian Wagner and Allan Weissglass. 

In addition, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate D. Levin, Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe, Department of Education Chancellor Joel Klein, and Deputy Mayor for Administration Patricia E. Harris will serve as ex-officio members of the Commission.  The head of the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), a position rotating among the directors of City-owned cultural organizations, and the head of one of the borough arts councils will also serve as ex-officio members.  For the coming year, Karen Brooks Hopkins, President of the Cultural Institutions Group, will represent the CIG, and Laura Jean Watters, Executive Director of the Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island, will represent the borough arts councils.

Biographical accounts of Mr. Fishman, Ms. Hopkins and Mr. McGuire follow:

Alan H. Fishman
Alan H. Fishman was elected Chief Executive Officer of the Independence Community Bank in 2001. He serves on the Board of Directors of KeySpan Corporation, where he is Chairman of the Audit Committee, and Independence Community Bank Corp. He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Brooklyn Academy of Music and Chairman of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Karen Brooks Hopkins (ex-officio)
Karen Hopkins is President of the Brooklyn Academy of Music and currently the Chair of the Cultural Institutions Group.  Ms. Hopkins is an active member of the Performing Arts Centers Consortium and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Salzburg Seminar-Alberto Vilar Project of Critical Issues for the Classical Performing Arts.

Raymond J. McGuire
Raymond J. McGuire is currently a Managing Director in Morgan Stanley’s Mergers and Acquisitions Group based in New York.  Mr. McGuire is Chairman of the Board of The Studio Museum in Harlem. Other board affiliations include International Center of Photography and the Whitney Museum of American Art.