LOWER MANHATTAN CULTURAL COUNCIL ANNOUNCES HONOREES FOR THE ANNUAL “DOWNTOWN DINNER” FUNDRAISER AT CIPRIANI WALL STREET ON MAY 4, 2006

New York, NY—Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), New York City’s vital Downtown arts non-profit organization, announced honorees for its highly anticipated 17th annual benefit, “The Downtown Dinner”, which will take place at the landmark Cipriani Wall Street at 55 Wall Street, Thursday, May 4th, 2006 from 6–9 pm. As part of LMCC’s tradition of honoring outstanding partnershipsThe 2006 gala dinner and art auction will honor New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn with LMCC’s 2006 Civic Leadership Award. Each will be recognized for their outstanding contributions and ongoing commitment to the revitalization of Lower Manhattan as well as downtown New York City’s arts and culture. James Quigley and William Freda, CEO and Northeast Managing Partner of Deloitte and Touche will receive the 2006 Distinguished Business Achievement Award for their dedication to rebuilding the vitality of Lower Manhattan after 9/11. And, for their contribution and support of the Downtown Arts communities Andy and Kate Spade will be honored with the 2006 Creative Achievement Award. 2006 Downtown Dinner honorees join a highly respected family of LMCC honorees including Senators Hillary Clinton and Chuck Schumer, architects Santiago Calatrava and Maya Lin, John and Dan Tishman of Tishman Realty & Construction, singer-songwriters Cassandra Wilson and Sonic Youth, and philanthropist and famed New Yorker David Rockefeller.

The evening will include a silent auction over 100 artworks donated by artists such as Marina Abramovic, Christo and Jeanne Claude, Sean Landers, Robert Longo, Emilio Perez, and Tom Sachs among others. Proceeds from the auction benefit the LMCC’s Agnes Martin Workspace Fund for Lower Manhattan’s Cultural Council’s artist residency program.

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, founded in 1973 by David Rockefeller, is an essential part of Downtown’s cultural landscape and a principal player in its redevelopment. Following the loss of its World Trade Center home, LMCC re-emerged as a new and improved cultural force and platform for emerging artists.

Three decades after its founding, LMCC remains at the forefront of Downtown’s cultural vision and serves as the creative hub for connecting residents, tourists, and workers to Lower Manhattan’s vast and vibrant arts community. Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s programs include the Workspace:120 Broadway artist residency; the Gulf Coast artist residency, providing six months of studio space to 14 artists displaced by Hurricane Katrina; Swing Space, matching 100,000 sq. ft. of vacant commercial space with artists and organizations; What Comes After: Cities Art and Recovery, an international summit; free outdoor performances and a Summer-long arts festival; as well as annually distributing 1.5 million dollars in grants to artists, organizations and workshops in the downtown arts community.

For information or to obtain press credentials for the “Downtown Dinner”, please contact Gina Nanni or Mohamed Alladin at 212 358-9516. For tickets or corporate sponsorships, please contact Melissa Levin at 212 219-9401x138.