The Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill held its annual Spring Fling benefit on April 25, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Access Parrish, an initiative that makes art accessible to visitors of all needs and abilities. The event featured art, dance, music, and food, and honored Bobbie Braun of The Neuwirth Foundation as the museum's inaugural Civic and Community Leader Honoree for her unwavering commitment to the program since its inception in 2016.
This matters because Access Parrish exemplifies how museums can actively serve diverse communities, supporting individuals with neurodivergent, physical, and cognitive differences—including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, autism, and cancer—as well as veterans, seniors, caregivers, and families facing barriers to participation. The recognition of Bobbie Braun underscores the critical role of philanthropic leadership in sustaining inclusive arts programming, setting a model for other institutions to follow.