Studio 42 launched the Starving Artists Ball in 2002, as a fundraiser and a multi-disciplinary exhibition and celebration of emerging artists, to widespread acclaim.

The Ball has since been held annually in prestigious New York venues such as the Culture Project, the Metropolitan Pavilion and the Angel Orensanz Foundation, and is consistently attended by up to 800 of New York City’s up-and-coming artists, along with many of its established philanthropic art supporters.

Keynote speakers at past Starving Artists Balls have included Charles Busch, Lewis Black, Emmy Award-winner Michael Imperioli, and John Patrick Shanley.

Proceeds from the Ball have benefited The Starving Artist Award, a cash grant of up to $7,500 that has been given the last two years to a New York City artist of exceptional merit. The Starving Artist Award Committee has included well-known artists such as Emma McLaughlin (co-author of national best-seller The Nanny Diaries) and Robert Lupone (Artistic Director of New York’s MCC Theater). Starving Artist Award-winners have included Julia Frodahl (2004), Claudia Alick (2005), and Luke Stoffel (2006).

Special guests at the Ball have included actors Richard Kind, Justin Long, Sam Rockwell, Frederick Weller, author Jonathan Ames, Avenue Q creators Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez, and the Public Theater’s Gail Papp.

The Ball traditionally has featured dinner, dancing, open bar, special guest DJ, keynote addresses and entertainment, an art exhibition of 20–30 emerging artists, and the presentation of the Starving Artists Award, designed by Jonathan Adler.