Gold Coast Arts receives $25K for education programs

The Gold Coast Arts Center in Great Neck received a $25,000 donation from AT&T and WarnerMedia to increase arts outreach and scholarships for students throughout the region, including students in underserved communities.

The money will go towards supporting and expanding many year-round education programs, including in-person and virtual classes and workshops, teacher training programs, and performances to supplement the school-based arts programs that have been cut or reduced in many Long Island districts.

The donation will support the Gold Coast Arts Social Action Film Series, which features documentaries on issues impacting local communities, with follow-up discussions to continue conversations sparked by the films. It will also support classes and workshops at Gold Coast Art’s School for the Arts, which are focused on film, art, and animation, including up to eight scholarships to give local students the opportunity to attend these programs.

“The arts are an essential component in the education of all students,” Caroline Sorokoff, associate director of Gold Coast Arts and festival director for the Gold Coast International Film Festival, said in a written statement. “We are incredibly grateful to AT&T and WarnerMedia for their support and excited for their partnership as we develop new and creative ways to continue to provide the highest quality arts and educational programming and opportunities for students and school districts throughout Nassau County and Long Island, both in-person and virtually.”

The contribution to the Gold Coast Arts is part of AT&T’s and WarnerMedia’s ongoing commitment to Long Island communities, where WarnerMedia’s HBO is filming its new series, “The Gilded Age,” at Old Bethpage Village Restoration.

Amy Kramer, president of the Northeast Region for AT&T, said as Long Island begins to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, many school districts and nonprofits are facing significant financial challenges, resulting in lost opportunities for art education.

“Together, AT&T and WarnerMedia are honored to support Gold Coast Arts and its mission to help students access high-quality resources and connections to pursue artistic endeavors,” Kramer said in the statement. “We hope these funds can help fill the gaps in arts education during this trying time when we could all benefit from the arts.”