VAEA’s Annual Benefit GalaHonoring Annie Leibovitz withThe Páez Medal of Art 2015

Wednesday November 18th 2015David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln CenterNew York City

Photo by Nick Rogers (c) 2012

Table of Contents

Reinaldo and Carolina Herrera, 2014’s Gala ChairsPhoto by José Sigala, 1971

● About the Gala

● About the Páez Medal of Art

● Photos of VAEA’s 2014 Gala

● Photos of VAEA’s 2013 Gala

● Photos of VAEA’s 2012 Gala

● About VAEA

● VAEA’s Programs

● VAEA’s Leadership

● Contact Information

About the GALA

The Gala will take place in New York City on Wednesday November 18th 2015 at the David Rubenstein Atrium at NYC’s Lincoln Center; the event will include a ceremony in which VAEA’s Páez Medal of Art 2015 will be awarded to renowned artist Annie Leibovitz.

VAEA’s Annual Benefit Gala will be an amazing night to celebrate the best of North American and Venezuelan cul-tures and to honor Páez Medal of Art recipient 2015 Annie Leibovitz.

We expect approximately 200 guests to attend the event from all nationalities, as international friendship through art is our main goal and in reflected in our diverse group of friends and patrons. The Gala will include a sit down dinner, and an after-party and will boast live entertainment.

VAEA’s previous Galas have been a great success, counting with an attendance of distinguished guests and abun-dant press coverage. The Gala in 2015 will surely build upon the accomplishments of previous years and provide a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the culture and friendship between our two great nations.

About the Páez Medal of Art

The Páez Medal of Art is offered once a year to an individual or group that has had an impact and contributed to the excellence, growth, support and proliferation of the arts in both Venezuela and the United States.

The Medal recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of in-dividuals or institutions engaged in the creation and production of the arts. Annually all members of the board submit their nomi-nations and designate the honoree.

Previous recipients include Carlos Cruz-Diez (2012), Robert Wilson (2013) and Sofia Imber (2014).

Photos of VAEA’s 2014 Gala Honoring Sofia Imber

2014 Gala Clockwise from left: VAEA Chairman Ali Cordero Casal, 2014 Paez Medal of Art Recipient Sofia Imber, Adriana MenesesMistress of Ceremony Eglantina Zingg, Gala Atmosphere, Boris Izaguirre and Eglantina Zingg, Young Committee Members,

Gala Chairs Reinaldo y Carolina Herrera.

Photos of VAEA’s 2013 Gala Honoring Robert Wilson

2013 Gala Clockwise from left: Gala Atmosphere, Award Ceremony, Dianne B, Director of the Watermill Center and VAEA Chairman Ali Cordero Casal, Mistress of Ceremony Veronica Albornoz, DJ Titina Penzini, Honorary Chairs Neal and Anita Slavin,

Clifford Allen and Dianne B from the Watermill Center and Gala Chairmen Angel Sánchez and Christopher Coleman.

Photos of VAEA’s 2012 Gala Honoring Carlos Cruz-Diez

2012 Gala Clockwise from left: Honorary Chairs Marcio Souza and Maria Brito, Gala Sponsors Chadbourne & Parke, Adriana Cruz and VAEA Chairman Ali Cordero Casal,

Detail of Goodie Bags designed by Master Carlos Cruz-Diez, DJ Titina Penzini and Journalist Gianfranco Berardinelli.

About VAEA

VAEA, founded June 13th 1990 is a New York based 501 (c) 3 non-for profit organization with the mission of strengthening the ties of friendship between the United States of America and Venezuela through bi-national social and cultural programs.

VAEA aims to do this by supporting, including by funding the conduct of activities such as exhibitions, performance, publication, distribution and dissemination of works and information regarding visual and performing arts in and of both countries, and by providing funding and other support to individuals and organizations including domestic tax-exempt and foreign charitable organizations.

Throughout history, the United States and Venezuela have always had a very stimulating cultural dialogue, VAEA aims to honor and further develop the cultural relationship between these two great nations through rich and dy-namic cultural exchanges.

Some of our main accomplishments include: VAEA’s 5X5 visual arts exhibitions have shown the work of 40 artists in over ten venues around the world. Our educational program El Museo y La Escuela, has taken hundreds of children to see art exhibitions and cultural activities both in Venezuela and USA. VAEA Grants have helped over 20 artists and organizations in critical stages of their artistic careers realize their projects. VAEA’s Curated Artists Registry Online features the work of over 50 artists from Venezuela and USA.

Photos of some of VAEA’s bi-national programs

5X5 Real Un Real, NY 2013 2014 VAEA Grant Recipient El Museo del BarrioMarisol: Sculptures and Works on Paper

El Museo y la Escuela Visits the Museum of Arts and Design, 2012 El Museo y la Escuela Visits the Museo de Arte Acarigua-Araure, 2013

VAEA’s LeadershipGovernanceHonorary Chairman: Luis Herrera Campins † Former President of Venezuela

Founder / Chairman: Ali Cordero CasalVice President: José Nicolas Giacopini

2013 - 2015 Board of Directors: Luis R. Cancel, John Stephen Fancher, Andreina Fuentes, James Goldschmidt, Antonio Herrera-Vaillant, G. Edward Kal-baugh, Ernesto Rangel and Manuel Sosa.Advisory Board: Patricia Beracasa, Maria Brito Souza, Ricardo Brunstein, John Cahill, Patrick Cooney, Rafael Egañez, Francisco Gonzalez, Anne Horton, Robert J. Horton, Edward Mapplethorpe, Juan Proano, Calogero Salvo, Alex Slato and Marcio Souza.

Thank you!

Thank you for your interest in VAEA’s most important night of celebration and for cosidering supporting a great cause while becoming a promi-nent and visible part of our Gala.

Contact: Valeria Cordero, Executive Director | valeriacordero@vaearts.org | Cellphone: 9177036840 | Office: 917 285 VAEA (8232)Mail: The Venezuelan American Endowment for the Arts, 25 Broadway, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10004