“Punk & Beyond: Legends of the Lower East Side” Charitable Gallery

The MOSCOT Mobileyes Foundation has announced a partnership with national music education nonprofit, Music Will, for Punk & Beyond: Legends of the Lower East Side, an immersive art experience celebrating the musicians that rose to fame on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. With support from legendary music producers Perry Margouleff and Steve Rosenthal, the exhibition will raise funds for the launch and expansion of Music Will’s music programming in the neighborhood’s public schools. In addition to developing and sponsoring the exhibit, The MOSCOT Mobileyes Foundation has kicked off the initiative with a $26,000 donation to open four music programs in local public schools; this will fund teacher trainings, instrument donations, curricular resources, and scholarships to attend the Music Will Modern Band Summit. Both organizations hope to continue this initiative annually, building lifelong connections between students and music worldwide. 

This initiative stemmed from the belief that music brings people together across all divides, a sentiment shared by friends, philanthropists, and musicians, Perry Margouleff, Steve Rosenthal, and Harvey Moscot. With MOSCOT’s historical roots in the Lower East Side, the Punk & Beyond: Legends of the Lower East Side gallery aims to pay tribute to a few impactful musical pioneers and establishments of the neighborhood while raising funds to inspire the next generation of musicians.

“I’m delighted to have the opportunity to evolve MOSCOT Mobileyes from one passion of providing eyecare to those in need, to my other great joy in life—music, by providing music education to local public-school kids. I am dedicated to continuing to find ways to give back to the city that has been so good to MOSCOT” shares Dr. Harvey Moscot.

MOSCOT Music originated in 2004 at the Company’s Orchard Street Shop, when 4th Generation, Harvey Moscot, grabbed his guitar and started jamming out on a rainy Saturday. Guests lined up, staff members and 5th Generation, Zack Moscot, joined in and since then, MOSCOT has added a music element to its repertoire, by connecting fans worldwide with emerging and established musical artists.

"We are so grateful to MOSCOT Mobileyes for their invaluable support of our mission promoting music education in the Lower East Side, and to Perry Margouleff for his unwavering dedication to our cause," says Janice Polizzotto, Music Will Interim CEO. "We are so proud to be part of an exhibit that commemorates the rich musical heritage of this historic neighborhood and celebrates its vibrant diversity." 

Designed by Daniel Kershaw, Exhibition Design Manager at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the immersive experience will feature artifacts from Johnny Thunders, Lou Reed, Norah Jones, David Peel, and more. Free and open to the public, the exhibit will run from April 22^nd - July 9^th, Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm to 8pm at the Mark Miller Gallery (92 Orchard Street, NY, NY). The gallery space will hold various intimate events throughout the course of its run hosted by donors, including performances, panels, and conversations with Lower East Side legends.

The MOSCOT Mobileyes Foundation is a not-for-profit organization serving underprivileged New Yorkers founded by Dr. Harvey Moscot in 2008. The Mobileyes initiative has shifted from solely providing medical eyecare to supporting the needs of the community as a whole.

To make a donation, visit MOSCOT Mobileyes

Music Will is the largest nonprofit music program for schools in the United States. In the last 20 years, they have provided teacher training, curriculum, and instruments to over 6,000 schools across all 50 states - impacting over 1.2 million students to date. The organization's mission is rooted in social justice work, striving to restore and transform music education in schools as districts continue to lose funding for music and arts programs. Comprising rock, hip-hop, pop, R&B, Latin, country, and jazz genres, Music Will's unique curriculum is as diverse as the students they serve. Music Will plans to reach one million more students in the next five years.

To learn more, visit Music Will