Harlem Arts Alliance (HAA) firmly believes that the arts play a crucial role in the revitalization of the Harlem community. In fact, it was the artistic and cultural community that initially caused Harlem to emerge as a destination of international importance. HAA is an association of cultural organizations and individual artists dedicated to preserve, promote and present the rich cultural legacy and contributions of Harlem in their respective venues.

MISSION STATEMENT
HAA is created to preserve, promote, sponsor and present the rich cultural programs that reflect the vast contributions of multi-ethnic and multi-cultural writers, performers, directors, producers, visual artists, designers, choreographer and dancers. HAA will serve the needs of its members by creating marketing, promotions, providing technical assistance, grants and using fund raising strategies for building new audiences and producing expanding cultural presentations.

HAA is interested in, and committed to, the inclusion of arts and cultural activities throughout the Harlem community and proposes:

HAA meet on a monthly basis to explore and develop joint marketing strategies that will be beneficial to member organizations and individuals in reaching their target audience.

HAA members and local cultural institutions are included in all major housing construction projects. That cultural organizations are recognized as essential the growth and development of the well being of Harlem.

HAA members will utilize their expertise, resources and contacts to integrate various arts and culture programs in educational and social service outlets throughout Harlem.

HAA members will develop training and employment opportunities for Harlem residents, especially youth, in the theatre, music, communications, film,design, visual arts, recording and related media industries. HAA will collaborate with local schools and colleges to create a mentorship program that nurtures and showcases young talent.

HAA will create a multi-discipline, multi-cultural, and multi-ethnic resource directory of its member organizations and individuals.

HAA will produce and annual arts festival to promote tourism, employment and economic empowerment for its members.

SUMMARY
Harlem has never been economically healthier and safer than when its arts are actively alive. HAA can and will play a vital role in the re-establishment of Harlem as the cultural capital of Black America.

HARLEM ARTS ALLIANCE WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
NEW YORK, N.Y., September 19, 2005 - The Harlem Arts Alliance (HAA) is pleased to welcome Linda Walton as their new Executive Director. This announcement coincides with the recent grant awarded by the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone to the HAA for $250,000.

Ms. Walton, a long-time resident of Harlem comes to the Harlem Arts Alliance with over 20 years experience in arts administration in both the corporate and not-for-profit arenas where she developed, implemented and managed a host of cultural and artistic programs that foster strategic partnerships with artists and arts organizations in the United States, Africa, The Americas, the
Mediterranean Basin.

Says Walton, "I am proud to align myself with the mission, goals, and efforts of the Harlem Arts Alliance and look forward to my continued commitment to serving and supporting artists and the Harlem artistic community."
“The members of the Harlem Arts Alliance welcomes Ms. Walton to our organization,” says Voza Rivers, the chairman of the HAA. “We have grown from 12 members in 2001 to over 400. Ms. Walton is the right person who will guide us into the 21st Century.”

LINDA WALTON

Ms. Walton has over 20 years experience in arts administration, events planning, conference coordination, production, and programming in both the corporate and non-profit arena.
 
Ms. Walton currently works as an Arts Consultant overseeing a variety of special projects including the WaterWorks Project for Aaron Davis Hall in Harlem and coordinated the Leading National Theatres Program Grantees meeting for the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in Dublin, Ireland.

She joined Arts International in 1998, as Grants Manager for The Fund for U.S. Artists at International Festivals and Exhibitions, the Artists at Giverny, and the Cintas Fellowship grants programs and in 2000 joined the Projects and Partnerships division where she was responsible for developing and implementing strategies for cultural exchange activities in Africa, The Americas, and the Mediterranean Basin. In this capacity, she also oversaw the development and implementation of Women’s Voices: Africa, a network of artists and cultural workers from throughout the African Diaspora and managed the Islamic World Arts Initiative, an international, multi-disciplinary arts initiative that support projects that foster understanding between the Islamic World and the United States.
 
At 651 Arts she held several positions including Special Events Coordinator and Program Manager for both the U.S. and African (Africa Exchange) artists residency programs where she oversaw the creation of more than 25 international projects at 16 performing arts organizations with 50 artists including choreographers, playwrights, theater directors, and dancers from Africa rarely seen in the arts community or in the general public.
 
Ms. Walton has held a number of diverse positions in the fashion and fashion-related industries including manufacturing, retail buying, cosmetic marketing and special events and has worked as the Administrative Director for the “I Have a Dream” Foundation, a national non-profit educational organization that provides support services and scholarships to at-risk youth. Her interest in events planning led her to a position with Festival Productions, Inc., a producer of national and international festivals and developer of marketing and sponsorship program for a host of corporate clients.

Voza Rivers
Chairman
Harlem Arts Alliance

Linda Walton
Executive Director
Harlem Arts Alliance

Tania Seburyamo
Executive Assistant
Harlem Arts Alliance

The Harlem Arts Alliance meets on the first Monday of every month from 10a.m to 12 noon.

Currently, meetings
are being held at:
The Theatre of
The Riverside Church
91 Claremont Avenue, NYC
(at 120th Street and Claremont Avenue, one block west of Broadway)

NEXT MEETING:

Monday,
August 6, 2007
10am until 12 noon