Coalition for the Homeless ARTWALK NY
Since 1981, the Coalition for the Homeless has developed and implemented humane, cost-effective strategies to end mass homelessness in New York City. Every day, the Coalition works to ameliorate the suffering of more than 3,500 men, women, and children by providing housing, emergency food and clothing, crisis services, job training and special programs for kids such as CampHomeward Bound.
The Coalition for the Homeless hosted their 22nd annual ARTWALK NY, bringing together more than 700 Coalition supporters, artists, collectors, art-lovers, and celebrities in the Flatiron’s Metropolitan Pavilion for an evening of festivities including a live and silent auction of more than 100 pieces of donated contemporary art.
For the seventh consecutive year, Empire served as overall producer of ARTWALK NY. This year, artist Kenny Scharf was honored for his contribution to contemporary art, and Mike De Paola was honored for his continuous philanthropic support of the Coalition over the years.
Aileen Agopian auctioned off a magnificent selection of art pieces donated by some of the world’s most celebrated artists, including Jenny Holzer, Wade Guyton, Louise Fishman, Ed Ruscha, and honoree Kenny Scharf.
The evening, generously presented by Italian fashion house Max Mara, began with hors d’oeuvres by Pinch Food Design and cocktails graciously provided by VDKA 6100, Morris Kitchen, Peroni, Illegal Mezcal, and Perrier. A selection of New York’s best restaurants, including Indochine, DB Bistro Moderne, Wildair, Sessanta, Rouge Tomate, The Odeon, Bar Bolonat, and Momofuku Nishi provided tasting stations. Mah-Ze-Dahr Bakery, Morgenstern’s Finest IceCream, and Kreuther Handcrafted Chocolate offered luscious sweets, and CounterCulture poured espressos and lattes.
Throughout the night, guests bid on and purchased works from established and emerging artists while grooving to tunes spun by DJ Mia Moretti.
Working closely with Coalition for the Homeless’ events team and title sponsor Max Mara, Empire served as executive producer of the event and was responsible for aspects ranging from event design, layout, production, and logistics to décor and restaurant coordination.
To learn more about the Coalition for the Homeless or to get involved and donate, visit www.coalitionforthehomeless.org
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
