“Art Lives Here” Gala Will Celebrate the Arts in New Rochelle

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts (NRCA) will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a far-out fabulous fiftieth bash “Art Lives Here” on Saturday, May 10th, 2025 at the Forbes Auditorium at Temple Israel. Guests are being invited to “come as they were (or as you would have been)” for a 1970s-themed party that will include a cocktail hour with live music, a dinner buffet of 70s-inspired dishes and a DJ spinning dance floor favorites of the era, plus a silent auction and more surprises. Tickets and sponsorship information are available at www.newrochellearts.org.

NRCA will be highlighting the positive role it has played in promoting the arts in New Rochelle over the past 50 years -- and the impact the arts have had on the vibrancy of New Rochelle -- by honoring a diverse group of New Rochelle residents who have brought the arts home to their community:

• Visual Arts: Charles Fazzino, world-celebrated artist known for his 3-D Pop Art
• Arts Education: Alexandra Rutsch Brock artist, curator, educator
• Film and Community: Malcolm Lee award-winning Director and Producer of film and TV and Camille Banks Lee psychotherapist and youth advocate
• Community Partner: Vin Parise and the Department of Parks & Recreation

The evening will be hosted by Christopher John Farley, TV executive (Senior Director, Arts Programming & Development at PBS) and author whose new novel “Who Knows You By Heart” is due out Fall 2025.

In addition, NRCA will honor the founding members of the NRCA whose vision paved the way for making New Rochelle an arts-rich and arts-supporting community. “The arts are essential to New Rochelle,” says Gala Chair Lynn Green, Vice President of NRCA. “Arts build community, and community is pivotal to the success of the City of New Rochelle,” adds committee member Linda Kelly Fauci.

Art Lives Here will be an evening of 1970s-inspired fun that will start with a “red carpet” photo opportunity featuring vintage cars. Guests will enjoy a cocktail hour with signature cocktails (remember the Harvey Wallbanger?) and a dinner buffet featuring 1970s era favorites (Twinkie Tiramisou, anyone?), with entertainment including live music by Loungezotica 3000 during cocktail hour and a DJ spinning all the greatest hits of the 70s after dinner.

The Art Lives Here Gala Committee is being chaired by NRCA Vice President Lynn Green, with a steering committee that includes Maddali Paci Atallah, Marisa Boan, Margaret Chadwick, Barbara Davis, Monica Deane, Leslie Demus, Selena Evans, Dave Fabris, Linda Kelly Fauci, Liz Garland, Janine Jones, Karen Keller Selman, Theresa Kump Leghorn, and Mercy Tullis-Bukhari.

For more information about the Gala, or to become a Sponsor, please contact NRCA at hello@newrochellearts.org.

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts was created by the New Rochelle City Council in 1975 to stimulate and encourage the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts; for 50 years NRCA has worked to fulfill that mission by sponsoring art exhibitions, theatrical productions, dance recitals, film screenings, lectures, concert series and public art. In addition, NRCA has created signature annual events, like the Summer Sounds Concert Series at Hudson Park and ArtsFest. NRCA has also built relationships between the arts, the business community and city government, resulting in collaborations like the NRCA Rotunda Gallery at City Hall and the 20 large scale, high impact NRNY Murals.

The NRCA website www.newrochellearts.org has become major resource for artists and art lovers – the “go-to” place for information about the arts – and the NRCA’s free monthly e-newsletter keeps subscribers up to date about arts activities happening in the city and surrounding communities. For more information visit NRCA on the web at www.newrochellearts.org.

The New Rochelle Council on the Arts is proud to be a grantee of ArtsWestchester with funding made possible by Westchester County government with the support of County Executive Ken Jenkins. NRCA’s programs are also made possible, in part, with support from the City of New Rochelle, grants, sponsorships and donations.