Damian Woetzel
Question: In your own words, what is the Alliance for the Arts?
Woetzel: The Alliance for the Arts to me signifies a way for the arts to flourish on so many different levels. There is how it shows the economic developments portion of the arts, which is something that I really care a lot about — how much impact the arts have, not only in New York City, but in New York State. A lot of people don’t understand that. There are billions and billions of dollars, and the Alliance studies really get that message out there, which is essential. And then they deal with education as well, showing the impact of education. Again, across a scope of years too, a series of studies, over the years that show how important the arts are for education and how they work best, because it’s not easy, it’s not simple.
Some people say ‘Oh, you just need some arts education.’ Well, it’s kind of complicated, and the Alliance for the Arts gets into the complexities, which is so great. As a former dancer, I love the idea that people get to know where the art is happening. The Alliance for the Arts, is a place where people can go, and increasingly so as they put up new databases showing where the art is happening. Not only must it happen, but [also] people have to know where it happens and make it accessible. So they’re spurring the demand and the supply. So that’s the Alliance for the Arts to me, it’s a win-win-win.
Q: Where did you dance?
Woetzel: I was a principal at the New York Ballet for 20 years. I retired in June.
Q: What is your role with the Alliance?
Woetzel: Tonight I’m just here as a supporter of the Artists Committee [for the Friends of the Arts Party] trying to make sure that people come out to support this event, which sponsors the Wagner Fellowship [Robert F. Wagner Jr. Fellowship for Public Policy and the Arts], which gets a young person involved in working in the arts. Usually it’s entry-level, which is so valuable, a place to go in the arts and make some substantive contributions right in the beginning of your career. I think it signifies a lot of the good things that have happened in the arts in the city, and it’s something I support very much.
Q: How long have you been involved?
Woetzel: I’ve known Randy Bourscheidt, the president for a great many years, probably since I first moved to New York in the mid-1980s. So, I have supported his work basically since the Alliance began, and the ideas have always been with me. I started dancing when I was 4 years old, so I’ve had a long, long time.
Q: Have you benefited from the Alliance yourself as a dancer?
Woetzel: Only in the ways that I have described as far as spurring demand and helping the companies and artists that I have worked with have more fruitful careers. I think we all benefit when the world becomes a more artistic place. So, I’d have to say that’s a big yes.
Q: With such a bad economy and worthy causes to support, why is it important for people to support an arts organization?
Woetzel: Aside from the things I mentioned a minute ago about economic development, [about] how actually the arts are a big part of spurring revitalization especially in many areas where they need it. So this is a tailor-made situation. Also in education, how the arts lead to greater sophistications of understandings in math and sciences, and teamwork, and all kind of things you just can’t get other ways.
I believe it was a Churchill quote, when they were going to cut arts funding during World War II, he said, “Cut arts funding, what have we been fighting for!” [Editor's Note: During World War II, Winston Churchill's finance minister said Britain should cut arts funding to support the war effort. Churchill's response: "Then what are we fighting for?"]
Larry Keigwin
Q: In your own words, what is the Alliance for the Arts?
Keigwin: The Alliance for the Arts is an organization that advocates all the arts in New York and nationally. It’s an organization that supports artists, and it promotes art.
Q: What is your role in the organization, and how long have you been in it?
Keigwin: My role is really as a fan and supporter of the organization and as a very, very, very small donor. [Also,] I’m a friend of some of the staff.
Q: You are a dancer and you have a dance company, so have you benefited from the Alliance?
Keigwin: Oh definitely, without a doubt, and right now they’re making an initiative of building a new Web site that is sort of a calendar of all cultural events for New York, and I believe another Web site about all cultural events for kids. So, this is a wonderful place for me to promote my company and my choreography, and the research that they do is really extensive. I was just reading, on the way over, that in 2005 the arts in New York was creating billions and billions of dollars of revenue for the city. Anyway, they do all that research.
Q: What do you hope this organization will achieve in the future?
Keigwin: Wow, I hope that they are able to show this state and city of New York how valuable the arts are, and I hope that that extends to the nation, and [they see] just how valuable [the arts are] especially in the fragile time of recession. I hope that people really understand the value of nonprofits.
Basil Twist
Q: What is your role within this organization?
Twist: I’m just an artist who’s encouraged by their support of the arts.
Q: So do you personally receive benefits from this organization?
Twist: Indirectly, because of the art world’s support.
Q: Why is this organization important to you?
Twist: It’s because New York is the capital of the arts world, and it’s important that we support artists and art in this city, in this country especially at this time.
Q: Tell me a little about your art.
Twist: I’m a puppeteer, and I make theater pieces and opera pieces incorporating puppetry.
Q: Do you have anything you want to add?
Twist: No, it’s just fabulous to be here at Christie’s surrounded by all this beautiful art and these beautiful people!
Interviewed by Giacinta Pace, NBC News
