MINI: Driving Hope
Access to music is dwindling in NYC schools (with 47% fewer programs than in '07). So MINI and charity Sing For Hope literally made music more accessible to New Yorkers—by placing 50 hand-painted pianos around NYC and then donating them to schools.
Then, we used MINI's surprising storage space to create a roving 51st piano, which performed all over NY for 21 straight days.
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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:
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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:
NORTHSIDE FESTIVAL
in Williamsburg & Greenpoint
JUNE 11:
PIANO LESSONS
at 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:
FREE CONCERT
J Mascis + Jukebox the Ghost
JUNE 20:
VANESSA CARLTON
at Steve Nash Showdown
JUNE 21:
DUELING PIANOS
MINIPiano vs. painted piano
JUNE 22:
BROADWAY DAY
with Wicked, Kinky Boots, etc.
JUNE 24:
CLOSING CEREMONY
at Liberty Plaza
Photo by the Brooklyn Library
DINOSAUR JR.'S J MASCIS:
JUILLIARD SCHOOL PERFORMANCE:
Footage by The Juilliard School
Along with musical artists, the initiative also involved some surprising non-musicians, like STEVE MADDEN (below) and STEVE NASH.
Via FOX 5
CO-CREATIVES:
Lily Fu, Nate Mayer, Nick Sonderup
PRODUCTION PARTNERS:
Bleacher Report, Helo, Thrillist/NowThis