Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York Citys Premier Downtown Non-profit for Arts and Culture, Hosts The Downtown Dinner" Benefit on May 5th

Lower Manhattan Cultural Councils 2005 spring gala dinner and art auction will honor Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer, John and Dan Tishman of Tishman Construction, builders of the original World Trade Center and new Freedom Tower, and musicians Sonic Youth. Each will be individually recognized for their outstanding contributions and ongoing efforts to revitalize Lower Manhattan as well as their commitment to downtown New York Citys arts and culture.

(PRWEB) April 30, 2005 -- Im thrilled to be honored by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council because the arts are so critical to the redevelopment of downtown. Since the loss of their World Trade Center home on 9/11, LMCC has reemerged as a vital force in the arts both locally and internationally." Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

Senators Clinton and Schumer, builders John and Dan Tishman and musicians Sonic Youth to be honored

New York, April 28, 2005- Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York Citys premier Downtown arts non-profit, announced the honorees for its highly anticipated 16th annual benefit, The Downtown Dinner", which will take place at Ciprianis Downtown on Thursday, May 5th, 2005 at 5:30PM.

The 2005 spring gala dinner and art auction will honor Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer, John and Dan Tishman of Tishman Construction, builders of the original World Trade Center and new Freedom Tower, and musicians Sonic Youth. Each will be individually recognized for their outstanding contributions and ongoing efforts to revitalize Lower Manhattan as well as their commitment to downtown New York Citys arts and culture.

Presenters for the evening will include singer Suzanne Vega, Charles Gargano, chairman of the Empire State Development Corporation and the children of Lower Manhattan. The High - Low" themed gala nods to the current glitz of Wall Street and the grit of the Financial Districts bohemian days gone by.

The evenings events will include an art auction including artists Vito Acconci, Louise Bourgeois, Tom Sachs, Claes Oldenberg, Jenny Holzer and many others, which will help establish the Agnes Martin Fellowship Fund for Lower Manhattan Cultural Councils residency program, a short film by the up-and-coming Neistat Brothers and performances by Daniel Bernard Roumain, Red Dive, Joseph Morant, Boys Choir of Harlem, and the Ismaily House Band.

Downtown is less a place than a state of mind. Youll find us almost everywhere, claiming street corners, parks, donated storefronts and offices, billboards, classrooms, the sky, the internet-anywhere we can find to give artists opportunities to build, rehearse, dance, dream, sing, exhibit and otherwise tell their tales," says Lower Manhattan Cultural Council president, Tom Healy. LMCC nurtures the artists and organizations that have been downtown for years, and others discovering it for the first time. LMCC is one great collaboration - with literally thousands of people who make the arts flourish downtown. According to Healy The Downtown Dinner is not only a time to highlight what LMCC has accomplished this year, but its also an opportunity to recognize and thank those who support our goals. We look forward to a wonderful and memorable evening."

We are delighted to be honoring this incredible roster of individuals for their outstanding contributions to the arts and business communities and are extremely grateful to all the artists and galleries who have made such generous donations to our silent auction and benefit event," says Cherrie Nanninga, LMCCs Board Chairman.

This years Honorary Committee Chairs are Larry Silverstein, Silverstein Properties, Jonathan Tisch, Loews Hotels, John C. Whitehead, Lower Manhattan Development Corporation

Both Senator Chuck Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton will jointly be presented LMCCs Leadership Award for their tireless work since the terrorist attacks on September 11th to help New York recover and rebuild, and for their strong support for the arts as critical to the future of Lower Manhattan.

John and Dan Tishman will receive the Distinguished Business Achievement Award for having led construction on several signature projects that are as much tied into the cultural fabric of New York as they are into the city grid.

Sonic Youth will be honored for their long contributions to the New York punk and experimental music scene as well as other creative contributions Downtown. In 2002, Sonic Youth released Murray Street," a tribute to their Murray Street studio, located downtown. The release was one of the years most acclaimed albums.

To learn more about Lower Manhattan Cultural Council or to obtain press credentials for The Downtown Dinner", please contact Alyssa Miller at 212.999.5585.

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