Building on the success of its 2011 festival, which featured 500 artists and a record 225,000 attendees, the Dumbo Arts Festival today announced that AT&T will return for its second year as Presenting Sponsor. AT&T will join founding sponsor Two Trees Management Company and neighborhood partner The DUMBO Improvement District in presenting the weekend-long festival from September 28 – 30, 2012.

Thanks to AT&T’s 2011 support and leadership, the festival increased its programming capacity, significantly improved its guest- and artist-engagement tools, and emphasized the capabilities of network- and technology-enabled art – a nod to DUMBO’s thriving hub for New York City’s digital startups and artists. Over the course of the weekend, 225,000 guests attended the festival, experiencing works by more than 500 artists, 100 open studios, 50 galleries and stages, and 100 programming partners in Brooklyn’s most celebrated waterfront neighborhood.

In 2012, AT&T will again sponsor a Signature Art Work – following its 2011 cornerstone piece by Carl Skelton and Luke DuBois – as well as present the second annual AT&T Audience Choice Award, an app-enabled audience-only vote. The 2012 festival website debuted this week and will be followed by its new and improved location-enabled festival app. DUMBO Arts Festival is the single largest of a series of culturally-significant events in AT&T’s New York portfolio, including the Brooklyn Book Festival, Rooftop Films, Summer Stage, and The Northside Festival, where the renewed partnership was announced.

AT&T’s commitment has led to other groundbreaking partnerships for the festival. Reflecting DUMBO Arts Festival’s growing stature and influence in the art world, this year will also mark the debut of The SCOPE Prize – a major addition to the festival’s juried awards. SCOPE Art Show, the premier showcase for emerging contemporary art across multiple creative disciplines, will provide one festival artist the opportunity to exhibit at the SCOPE Art Show in Miami, which will run concurrent to Art Basel Miami, the most prestigious art show in the Americas.

“AT&T is proud to return as the presenting sponsor of DUMBO Arts Festival, a celebration of this unique neighborhood’s lively mix of artistic and digital innovation,” said Marissa Shorenstein, President, AT&T New York. “We look forward to once again sharing our support and making it easier than ever for visitors to connect with this extraordinary event.” “AT&T played a pivotal role in making last year’s DUMBO Arts Festival the most successful ever,” said Lisa Kim, cultural affairs director at Two Trees Management. “Its committed support and innovative leadership has helped new audiences discover one of Brooklyn’s most dynamic and exciting festivals and neighborhoods.” The Festival will announce additional new initiatives, partnerships, and prizes in the coming months. This year’s DUMBO Arts Festival will be produced by a team of veterans, including Frank Riley, Executive Producer, and Lisa Kim, Festival Director. Festival hours are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28; 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29; and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30. All outdoor projections are open from 6 p.m. to midnight all three nights.

For more information, please visit http://dumboartsfestival.com. ‘)}