Cool Culture UnGala

On May 25th, the architectural wonder known as the IAC building was buzzed with the energy of hundreds of people. The Cool Culture UnGala 2017, an annual event helped raise funds for Cool Cultures numerous arts affordability programs.

Cool Culture partners with 90 NYC premiere museums and over 400 preschools to ensure that over 50,000 of New York's most diverse families with preschool-aged children have free and unlimited access to arts and culture as a way to increase literacy and learning, family engagement, and strengthen communities. The annual event helps families and students afford arts education that might previously have been unreachable. 

To the tunes of performers Lion Babe, pianist Harold O’ Neal and the sounds of DJ Rich Medina, guests were able to sway and talk on important arts and social justice issues. Every so often, there comes along an event in where guests achieve the perfect balance of serious conversation and light hearted dancing, the UnGala proved to be one of those rare few. Attendees could be seen sipping drinks, smiling and talking about how they could push for the development of more NYC arts programs. The family and community engagement topic was on everyone’s mind as the night focused around the true, charitable meaning of what Cool Culture is about. The rest of the evening included a sit down dinner, silent auction, awards presentations, and open bar.

In addition to serious conversations, there was also a live and silent auction aspect of the event. As attendees danced, these ongoing auctions helped raise additional funds while offering perks like art and personal masterpieces.

The diverse mix of cultures and ideas helped mark the event as an open and accepting space for all. People from across the spectrum helped pull together to make the Cool Culture annual UnGala a wonderful success.

Photos Credit: Jonathan Grassi