MINI: Driving Hope
How do you help stem a 47% decline in NYC school music programs while also showing off a MINI's trunk space?
By partnering with nonprofit Sing for Hope to help create 50 hand-painted pianos across the city, then donating them to schools, and then turning one MINI into a roving 51st piano that's played by hundreds of artists over 30 days.
You know, that old trick.
The making of the MINIPIANO:
Footage by Helo and MINI USA
VANESSA CARLTON during halftime of Steve Nash's annual Soccer Showdown:
Footage by Bleacher Report
Hand-painted piano locations:
Example hand-painted pianos:
JUILLIARD SCHOOL PERFORMANCE:
Footage by NowThis/Thrillist
NOWTHIS coverage of our first event, "A Ride Through Time":
Footage by The Juilliard School
BRONX BLOCK PARTY:
Free concert at Brooklyn Library
J MASCIS + JUKEBOX THE GHOST:
Footage by Sing for Hope
Key MINIPiano events:
MAY 24:
THRILLIST RIDE THROUGH TIME
plays at historical venues like CBGB
JUNE 4:
LIBERTY PLAZA LAUNCH
all 51 pianos perform
JUNE 4:
LIVE TV PERFORMANCES
with Steve Madden & various hosts
JUNE 6:
JUILLIARD SCHOOL
live performance
JUNE 8:
BROOKLYN
Northside Festival
JUNE 11:
PIANO LESSONS
at NYC public schools
JUNE 12-13:
POP-UP SHOWS
citywide
JUNE 14:
BRONX
Block Party
JUNE 16:
INDUSTRY CITY
Thrillist Best Day of Your Life
JUNE 17:
FATHER'S DAY
piano on demand
JUNE 20:
J. MASCIS / DINOSAUR JR. CONCERT
Grand Army Plaza
JUNE 20:
VANESSA CARLTON
at Steve Nash Showdown
JUNE 21:
DUELING PIANOS
MINIPiano vs. painted pianos
JUNE 22:
BROADWAY DAY
with Wicked, Kinky Boots, etc.
JUNE 24:
CLOSING CEREMONY
Liberty Plaza
CO-CREATIVES:
Lily Fu, Nate Mayer, Nick Sonderup
PRODUCTION PARTNERS:
Bleacher Report, Helo, Thrillist/NowThis