When 92Y closed its physical building, the Gilda and
Henry Block School of the Arts sprang into
action. “We didn’t miss a day,” says
Art Center Director Allison Valchuis.
“Our teachers received training on how to run virtual
classes on Wednesday, March 11, and we went online on Friday
as New York began to go into lockdown.” We were one of
the first schools in the city to make the transition. We
knew we had to act fast. Many of our students have been
taking classes with us for five, ten, or 20 years —
they depend on this community.”
Longstanding students aren’t the only ones who benefit.
Art, jewelry and ceramics classes have never been more in
demand at 92Y and new students are joining us from all over
the world.
Adult dance students who had put their passion on the back
burner are reconnecting to the art of movement from home.
“Despite the lockdown, 92Y kept dance moving
forward,” says Taryn Kaschock
Russell, director of the Harkness Dance Center.
And School of Music students are deep diving into intimate
online classes with artists, critics, professors, and more.
Our new virtual art gallery, Works in
Progress, has created a living document of the
moment — showcasing how an increasingly diverse group
of international contemporary artists and curators are
processing the pandemic in real time. “We’ve
always wanted to make art accessible to people beyond the
Upper East Side,” says Valchuis. “This year, we
did it. We are now a global art center.”
Why has art been so popular this year? Yana
Stotland, director of 92Y’s School of
Music, sums it up succinctly: “Art helps people
imagine life beyond the pandemic.”
Your support has allowed us to bring joy, creativity, and a
dream of a better tomorrow to more people than ever before.