The 25th Annual ARTWALK NY Benefiting Coalition for the Homeless
The Coalition for the Homeless held the 25th annual ARTWALK NY at Spring Studios, bringing together more than 750 art lovers, celebrities, artists, collectors, and Coalition supporters for an evening filled with over 100 pieces of contemporary art in a silent and live auction.
Empire was proud to serve as overall producer for ARTWALK for the 10th consecutive year. The evening was generously presented by Italian fashion house Max Mara. This year, artist Katherine Bernhardt was honored for her contribution to contemporary art, and Michael Platt, Co-Founder and CEO of BlueCrest Capital Management, was honored for his philanthropic support of the Coalition.
Aileen Agopian auctioned off a stunning selection of art pieces courtesy of some of the world’s most renowned artists, including Jenny Holzer, Ed Ruscha, Louise Fishman, and the night’s artist honoree, Katherine Bernhardt.
The evening began with cocktails graciously provided by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Stella Artois, Hendrick’s Gin, Milagro Tequila, Flor de CanaRum, Hudson Whiskey, Monkey Shoulder, and Glenfiddich. Tasting stations were provided by a selection of New York City’s best restaurants, including Indochine, Claudette, Café Luxembourg, Cafeteria, Empire Diner, Houseman, Colonia Verde, Jay’s Brooklyn, and Wild Ink.
Throughout the night, guests bid on and purchased works from established and emerging artists while listening to upbeat tunes spun by DJ Mia Moretti and DJ Elle Dee.
The Coalition for the Homeless has been developing and implementing cost-effective strategies to end mass homelessness in New York City for close to four decades. The Coalition works tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of more than 3,500 homeless and at-risk men, women, and children each day by providing emergency food and clothing, housing, crisis services, job training, and programs for homeless youth.
Working closely with the Coalition for the Homeless’s event steam and title sponsor Max Mara, Empire served as executive producer of the event and was responsible for event design, production and logistics, décor, and restaurant coordination.
To learn more about the Coalition for the Homeless or to get involved and donate, visit http://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
