Pharrell Williams is throwing the black-tie Yellow Ball on Sept. 10 at the Brooklyn Museum to benefit Young Audiences Arts for Learning. As a dedicated art installation and high-cuisine dinner set the scene, musical performances will headline multiple GRAMMY winner Missy Elliott along with A$AP Ferg and DJ Stretch Armstrong.
<iframe width="620" height="349" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KO_3Qgib6RQ" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
In a Billboard interview, Williams described pitching the concept to American Express Platinum, who is donating an independent $1 million to the Young Audiences charity. "When we talked about doing the Yellow Ball and I told them I wanted it to be about arts and education, they didn't blink," he said. "What I wanted to do with them was just going to be yet another great thing that they do in the world."
Looking at the failure to support public arts education as a federal priority, he thought to expand on his relationship with the corporation and was surprised by the philanthropic activities AmEx was already involved in — an education he had not expected to receive. "So we need to talk to all the corporations that we can — that care — now," he continued, outlining his hopes that people-power can partner increasingly with the private sector to protect creativity.
"Music and the arts have been part of my life since birth, but it was my teachers, Mr. Warren, Mrs. Warren and Mr. Sharps, who exposed me to so many different kinds of music, that it expanded my mind and my imagination," said Williams in an Aug. 8 statement. "I would not be where I am today without music and arts education in my school as a youth. This is why I am so grateful that American Express is working with me to make sure we keep arts and music in our schools, accessible to all, where it belongs."
Priced at $250 per ticket/donation, the black-tie affair is available to cardholders while seats last, and gives them the option of trading in their existing Platinum cards for the special-event's Yellow card designed by Williams himself. AmEx also intends to base a promotional campaign with Williams on his musical searches for inspiration and the important role played by creativity.
