The Rockefeller Foundation and MAS proudly congratulate the recipients of the 2010 Jane Jacobs Medal—Joshua David and Robert Hammond, co-founders of the High Line and Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, founding president of the Central Park Conservancy and current president of the Foundation for Landscape Studies. The medal, which is administered by MAS, was created in 2007 to honor the author and activist who died in April 2006. It is awarded annually to New Yorkers whose work creates new ways of seeing and understanding the city.

“MAS is delighted the Rockefeller Foundation has chosen Joshua David, Robert Hammond and Elizabeth Barlow Rogers as Jane Jacobs Medalists,” said MAS President Vin Cipolla. “All three recipients embody Jane Jacobs’ tenets and demonstrate true dedication to New York City. With their innovative stewardship and activism, these medalists have created a more livable city for all to enjoy.” Continue Reading>>

Last Wednesday, June 23, MAS held its 2010 Annual Meeting, where it announced the winners of its 39th Annual Awards. The ceremony, held at the Tobacco Warehouse in DUMBO, celebrated the individuals, organizations, places, and events that contribute to the incredible nature of New York City.

Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation received the Special Recognition Award, for its entrepreneurship, imagination and creativity in creating a livable and fun space for New Yorkers.

Other honorees included: Brooklyn Bridge Park and the team behind the recent openings of new 13 acres of land at Piers 1 and 6; Dance Theatre Etcetera’s Angels and Accordions which brought together artists and community members in a live music and dance performance utilizing Green-Wood Cemetery; the Museum of Chinese in America for exhibiting the past, present, and future of New York’s Chinese immigrants; and Learning Leaders, which offers free math and reading tutoring and enrichment programs to public school children. Gregory Jackson was given the W. Allison and Elizabeth Stubbs David Awards, for his work as the director of the Brownsville Recreation Center in Brooklyn.

Early attendees were treated to tours of the recently unveiled portions of the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Nominations were submitted by Municipal Art Society members and reviewed by an awards committee chaired by Kitty Hawks. Committee members included Enid Beal, Eugenie Birch, and Alison Tocci.

Past honorees included the Brooklyn Flea, Strand Bookstore, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

We invite MAS members and friends to submit nominations for the 2010 Brendan Gill Prize. The prize, endowed to permit a cash award, is given annually to the creator of a specific work— a book, essay, musical composition, play, painting, sculpture, architectural design, film or choreographic work — completed between January 2009 and July 2010 that best captures the spirit and energy of New York City. The award is not intended to honor a lifetime achievement. Please submit nominations to MAS by July 9. To download a nomination form click here.

Past Brendan Gill Prize recipients have included: artists Mike and Doug Starn for their site specific installation See it split, see it change; musician Sufjan Stevens for his musical The BQE, actress Sarah Jones for her play Bridge & Tunnel, and artists Jeanne-Claude and Christo for their temporary Central Park art installation The Gates. For more information about the Brendan Gill Prize, visit MAS.org/brendan-gill or call 212-935-3960.

MAS would like to congratulate the winners of the 2010 MASterworks Awards. This year, the award recipients include Thom Mayne’s 41 Cooper Square as Best New Building, the Empire State Building Lobby Restoration as Best Historical Restoration, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center as Best Redesign, Reef, at Storefront for Art and Architecture as Best Storefront Design, and The High Line, The Concrete Plant Park, and West Harlem Piers Park all as Neighborhood Catalyst.

Organized annually by The Municipal Art Society (MAS) and sponsored by international banking and investment group Helaba, Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen, the MASterworks Awards recognize excellence in architecture and urban design completed within the last year across New York City. The 2010 Awards will be presented at a ceremony this fall.

“The winners this year prove that buildings, parks, and artistic installations are equally masterful in bringing architecture and urban design to new heights,” said MAS President Vin Cipolla. “We are continually impressed and delighted by how our urban environment is enhanced every year by visionary people with extraordinary ideas.” Continue Reading>>

MAS President Vin Cipolla will be the featured speaker at Citizens Union’s second annual Spring for Reform event, taking place on May 12. The event will honor Jonathan Butler and Eric Demby, co-founders of Brooklyn Flea, for their creativity in building such a successful forum for exchange that are strengthening New Yorkers’ spirit of community.

Cipolla said his remarks will focus on the importance of public space in New York and around the nation, and how endeavors like Brooklyn Flea have the power to galvanize communities and transform relationships.

“I am very pleased to join Citizens Union at this wonderful event, both to pay tribute to the co-founders of Brooklyn Flea and to talk about why public space plays such a significant role in civic life and livability,” he said. Continue Reading>>

The 2010 MAS Annual Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 23, when the MAS Annual Awards will be made. Any person, place, organization, or momentous event that has made an exceptional contribution to the life of New York City is eligible for an MAS Annual Award, and we are currently accepting nominations from MAS members and friends through Friday, May 14.

To submit a nomination, click here to fill in the online nomination form. For your nomination to be considered, you must include your full name, email address, the official name of the organization, place, event or person you are nominating, and an explanation of why you think it deserves an award. Continue Reading>>

The Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) is noted for its awards and prizes recognizing the excellence and achievements of individuals and organizations in the fields of urban design, historic preservation, architecture, and other cultural and artistic contributions that help make New York City more livable. But next week, MAS will itself receive some much-deserved recognition when three separate cultural groups in the city honor MAS leaders for their philanthropic and visionary work.

In an extraordinary coincidence, all three will be feted at separate charitable events on the evening of Monday, April 19. Continue Reading>>

MAS to administer awards program on behalf of the Rockefeller Foundation

2009 Jane Jacobs Medal Recipients Richard Kahan (left) and Damaris Reyes (center) with Judith Rodin, Mary Schmidt Campbell, and George Campbell.

The Rockefeller Foundation announced today that it is opening the public nominating process for the 2010 Jane Jacobs Medal — awarded to two living individuals whose creative vision for the urban environment has significantly contributed to the vibrancy and variety of New York City. Nominations can be submitted by anyone, but must be made by Monday, March 1, 2010. Nominations should be made online here.

The Municipal Art Society is honored to again administer the Jane Jacobs Medal nomination process on behalf of the Rockefeller Foundation, as we have done since 2007 when the Foundation first established the award to honor the activist, author and urbanist who died in April 2006 at the age of 89. MAS will also sponsor a series of walking tours and the annual Jane Jacobs Forum this fall to coincide with the medal presentations. Continue Reading>>

The Municipal Art Society has convened a panel of renowned architects, developers and design experts to serve on its 2010 MASterworks Awards Committee. Launched in 2001, the MASterworks Awards celebrate new development in New York City by honoring excellence in architecture and urban design.

The 2010 Awards Committee members are Vishaan Chakrabarti, Marc Holliday Professor, Columbia University GSAPP and Founding Principal, VCDC, Thomas Woltz, principal, Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, Paola Antonelli, senior curator of architecture and design at MoMA, Toshiko Mori, Robert P. Hubbard Professor in the Practice of Architecture at Harvard University Graduate School of Design and principal, Toshiko Mori Architect, and Alan Suna, developer and CEO, Silvercup Studios. Continue Reading>>

Last Thursday, MAS proudly presented the 22nd Brendan Gill Prize to artists Mike and Doug Starn for See it split, see it change, their site-specific permanent art installation at the South Ferry subway terminal in Lower Manhattan. Commissioned by the MTA Arts for Transit Program, See it split, see it change was completed in December 2008 to wide praise.

The Brendan Gill Prize is named for the long-time MAS trustee, renowned New Yorker theater critic, author, and architectural preservationist. The cash prize, funded by a permanent endowment, is awarded annually to the creator of a work of art, book, sculpture, film, musical composition, or architectural design, accomplished the previous year, that best captures the spirit and energy of New York City. It was established in 1986 by MAS board members Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Helen S. Tucker and Margot Wellington. Continue Reading>>