Readers Write: Art center not responsible for Garfunkel concert

The Island Now

To correct the insulting, outrageous allegations that Mr. Louis M. Soletsky of Manhasset has made in his letter to the editor (Friday June 28, 2013) I have the following to say:

The Great Neck Arts Center had absolutely nothing to do with the Garfunkel concert, other than to rent out the space to Mr. Garfunkel’s management team for his private concert. 

His list of invitees to purchase tickets was a limited one because of the nature of our space, which offers limited seating. 

We did not collect tickets or make sales. In fact, our staff and board members purchased our own tickets if we wanted to be in the auditorium. 

There were no comps for us or anyone else, although Mr. Garfunkel was free to do that, since he paid for it; and our Town Supervisor purchased his own tickets from the Garfunkel organization, as did other public officials and prominent members of the community who shared a desire to see and hear Mr. Garfunkel live in concert in our intimate setting. 

There was nothing secret about it. It was a private concert and was treated in the same way as other event organizers who rent our space are treated, as independent events. 

The center certainly does not perceive itself as “bugging” anyone in the community for money, as Mr. Soletsky so charmingly states it. 

The Great Neck Arts Center is a real not for profit, whose employees work very hard to bring the best in the arts to the community out of a sense of love of the arts and love for the community. 

We survive on donations and are grateful to those who appreciate and understand what we do, and that we have never had to rely on support from Mr. Saletsky. 

For Mr. Saletsky to make such cynical and outrageous statements in the paper reveals a man who has clearly never been here or partaken of our programs.

Shame on him and anyone else who doesn’t recognize the importance of our mission and the wonderful spotlight that we continue to shine on this community through the arts and education. 

Mr. Saletsky owes everyone he maligned in his letter a big apology.

Regina Gil

Founder/Executive Director

Great Neck Arts Center

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