The Parrish Art Museum’s annual Spring Fling community celebration, fundraiser, and networking event took place Saturday, April 16, 2016 at the Water Mill Museum. Spring Fling, features a live band, art scavenger hunt in the galleries, and a silent auction. The event helps support the Parrish’s year-round educational programs for children as well as adults. 2016 co-chairs are Christine Curiale, Maryanne Horwath, and Laura Wynne.

“Support of Spring Fling makes a tremendous impact on the Parrish’s ability to create, enhance, and offer vital programs for the community,” said Curiale. “In addition to the many creative programs the Museum offers the entire community, a new initiative, Access Parrish, provides an invaluable learning and social opportunity for two underserved groups: children with Autism spectrum disorder and adults with Alzheimer’s. With the help and support of our amazing East End community, the Parrish will continue to serve as your center for the arts and provide Access for many diverse groups.”

Spring Fling, initiated at the Parrish in the 1990s, now raises over $100,000 annually for education programs. This year, the Museum developed Access Parrish, a new program for children on the Autism spectrum and adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia, and their care givers. The Parrish continues to offer a wide variety of programs throughout the year: School Collaborations, such as Museum educator-led tours, studio activities, and unique programs developed in collaboration with regional educators; After School Art workshops; school vacation programs; weekly Open Studios; bi-lingual family tours; and the annual Student Exhibition, presented during the month of February, showcasing student artwork from over 30 regional elementary, middle, and high schools. Since the opening of the new building in Water Mill, the Museum has directly served 6,100 children and families, offered 310 school tours, 185 open studios, 208 after school and community offsite art workshops, and 43 weeks of art camps.