Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/754215
62 SAG-AFTRA | Fall 2016 | SAGAFTRA.org taking a claim in New York City's historic Theater District, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation unveiled the Robin Williams Center for Entertainment and Media on Oct. 5, ushering in a new age of artist-to-artist connection and establishing a state-of-the-art home in New York for union members. Named in honor of one of the most prolific performers of his generation, the new 154-seat screening room and educational center offers free professional programming to more than 40,000 artists in the New York area. It serves as the new venue to both the SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Conversations and The Business programs — reminding all who enter of the unique contributions made by Robin Williams to his peers and to audiences the world over. "We spent a great deal of time discussing the naming of the center and many names were considered," said Foundation Executive Director Cyd Wilson. "The one that continued to rise to the top, however, was Robin Williams, because he was not S NEILSON BARNARD/GETTY IMAGES DAVE KRYSL/ROBIN WILLIAMS PHOTO BY MAARTEN DE BOER DAVE KRYSL X 3 A Home in the Heart of the City The SAG-AFTRA Foundation Opens the Robin Williams Center Left, from left, panelists Bonnie Hunt, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Hank Azaria and Barry Levinson backstage during the grand opening of SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Robin Williams Center on Oct. 5 in New York City.