LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Karen Brooks Hopkins upon the occasion
of retiring as President of the Brooklyn Academy of Music

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body seeks to acknowledge those individuals
whose professional lives and civic endeavors serve to enhance the stat-
ure of the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Karen Brooks Hopkins upon the occasion of retiring as President of the
Brooklyn Academy of Music to be celebrated at a special tribute held in
her honor on Tuesday, April 28, 2015; and
WHEREAS, For the past 36 years, Karen Brooks Hopkins rendered faith-
ful, conscientious and valuable service to Brooklyn Academy of Music
(BAM); and
WHEREAS, In 1979, Karen Brooks Hopkins began working for BAM as a
Development Officer under the leadership of then-President/Executive
Producer Harvey Lichtenstein; upon his retirement in 1999, she was
selected to the esteemed position of President; and
WHEREAS, For more than 150 years, BAM, a multi-arts center located in
Brooklyn, New York, has been the home for adventurous artists, audi-
ences, and ideas, engaging both global and local communities; this vital
organization showcases the work of emerging artists and innovative
modern masters in world-renowned programming in theater, dance, music,
opera, film, and much more; and
WHEREAS, In her role as President, Karen Brooks Hopkins oversaw the
Academy's 230 full-time employees and facilities, including the
2,100-seat Howard Gilman Opera House, the 833-seat BAM Harvey Theater,
the four-theater BAM Rose Cinemas, the BAMcafe, and the BAM Fisher
building which houses the 250-seat flexible Fishman Space; and
WHEREAS, Under Karen Brooks Hopkins' luminous leadership, BAM has
grown into a global arts presenter, attracting an annual audience of
750,000 people, at the center of the thriving Brooklyn cultural
district; and
WHEREAS, In May of 2004, Karen Brooks Hopkins concluded a two-year
term as the Chair of The Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), which
consists of 33 prominent New York City cultural institutions; in this
capacity, she also served as a member of the Mayor of New York City's
Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission, and is currently a member of the
Boards of NYC & Company, the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, and the
Global Cultural Districts Network; and
WHEREAS, One year later, she held the position of Chair of the Hospi-
tality and Tourism cluster of the Initiative for a Competitive Brooklyn;
and
WHEREAS, From 2006-2010, Karen Brooks Hopkins served as a member of
the New York State Board of Regents; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, Karen Brooks Hopkins was appointed Commander of the
Royal Order of the Polar Star, in recognition of her role in solidifying
ties between the performing arts communities of Sweden and the United
States; and
WHEREAS, For four years, Karen Brooks Hopkins was employed as an
Adjunct Professor for the Brooklyn College Program for Arts Adminis-
tration; she also authored the well-known book, SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISING
FOR ARTS & CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS; and
WHEREAS, This remarkable woman has been the recipient of numerous
awards and accolades, including the Encore Award in Arts Management
Excellence from the Arts & Business Council of New York, a medal from
the Royal Dramatic Theater of Sweden, the King Olav Medal from the

Norwegian National Ballet, and the Chevalier de L'Ordre des arts et des
Lettres by the Republic of France, as well as an honorary Doctorate of
Humane Letters from St. Francis College, Brooklyn; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, in 2007, Karen Brooks Hopkins was named both one
of the 100 Most Influential Women in New York City Business, and one of
the 50 Most Powerful Women in New York by CRAIN'S CHICAGO BUSINESS; in
2013, she was designated a Woman of Achievement by the Women in Develop-
ment; and
WHEREAS, For the past 36 years, Karen Brooks Hopkins rendered faith-
ful, conscientious and valuable service to BAM, serving with loyalty,
honor and distinction; and
WHEREAS, In her official acts, Karen Brooks Hopkins was governed by a
keen sense of duty, and always showed a unique grasp of human problems
which earned her the admiration, esteem and affection of her colleagues;
and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Karen Brooks Hopkins upon the occasion of retiring as President
of the Brooklyn Academy of Music; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Karen Brooks Hopkins.