By Della Hasselle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MIDTOWN — Carnegie Hall has canceled the opening act for the JapanNYC's citywide festival due to the tragic events surrounding the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan Friday.
"We were all very saddened to hear about the tragedy in Japan. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected," said Clive Gillinson, Executive and Artistic Director of Carnegie Hall.
The festival had been scheduled to begin Monday with an opening night panel discussion, Innovating and Profiting in Contemporary Japan, a discussion of the country's sophisticated and tech-savvy consumer population as well as the barriers Japanese entrepreneurs encounter when conducting business worldwide. The event was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Weill Recital Hall.
Given the recent tragedy, however, Carnegie Hall felt the timing was inappropriate, organizers said.
The rest of the JapanNYC festival will continue as scheduled, with exhibits on Noh theater, manga, film, butoh dance and pop art exhibitions, organizers said.
"At this incredibly difficult time, we feel it is particularly important to pay tribute to Japan and its people through this festival," Gillinson said. "While plans for our JapanNYC festival proceed, we offer our thoughts and prayers to those affected."
Carnegie Hall is working on using the festival to raise awareness on how people can help provide relief to those affected as the local community reels from the news. As of Monday, the organization will be posting a list of relief funds and non-profits working to provide relief in Japan on their website for donors to use as a reference, Gillinson said.
The organizations on the list so far include the NYC Mayor's Fund, Save the Children: Emergency Relie for Japan Quake and The American Red Cross, among others.
Other foundations around the city are also seeking to assist in any way possible, including Midtown's Japan Society and the Asia Society.
For example, Kodo, an internationally acclaimed Japanese performing arts ensemble, will be performing at Asia Society Monday night, DNAinfo reported Friday.
"We are dedicating Kodo's Monday program at Asia Society to the victims of the earthquake in Japan," said Asia Society Director of Performing Arts and Cultural Programs Rachel Cooper. "We know that in this tragic time, the example of Kodo and its commitment to the shared humanity of the arts and Japanese culture, brings us together to share the solidarity and compassion that we all need at this sad time."
The Japan Society, on East 47th Street, launched a "Japan Earthquake Relief Fund," which will send 100 percent of tax-deductible contributions to organizations that directly help victims.
Friday's earthquake was the largest ever recorded in Japan. The death toll is officially at just over 1,000, but is expected to climb up to 10,000, ABC News reported.
