NEW YORK CITY CULTURAL LEADERS
RALLY IN SUPPORT OF ARTS AND CULTURE
FOR THE FY ’24 BUDGET
Culture Community Calls on Mayor Eric Adams to increase the baseline funding for culture in next year’s budget.
Making an investment in arts and culture means investing in the City’s citizens, communities, school children, and the economy.
NEW YORK (May 25, 2023) -- Elected officials, arts and culture organizations, the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) and New Yorkers for Culture & Arts (NY4C&A) gathered on the steps of City Hall this week, Monday, May 22, to rally in support of the administration increasing its investment in New York City’s arts and culture community.
Those rallying for the support at City Hall were: Abrons Arts Center/Henry Street Settlement; American Museum of Natural History; BAM; Bronx Zoo (WCS); Brooklyn Arts Council; Carnegie Hall; Climate Museum; Dance/NYC; El Museo del Barrio; FRIGID New York theater; Historic Richmond TownInternational Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP); Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning; Lincoln Center; Museum Hue; Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts; NY, Arts & Democracy; NY Aquarium (WCS); NY Botanical Garden; NY City Ballet; New York City Children’s Theater; Peculiar Works Project; People's Theatre Project; Queens Theatre; Queens World Film Festival; Queensboro Dance Festival; Staten Island Arts Council; Staten Island Zoo; Weeksville Heritage Center; The Chocolate Factory Theater; The Metropolitan Museum
Speakers included: Council Member Chi Ossé; Borough President Mark Levine; Lucy Sexton, New Yorkers for Culture & Arts; Coco Killingsworth, BAM / CIG; Council Member Shahana Hanifll; Karesia Batan, Queensboro Dance Festival; Council Member Chris Marte; David Binder – Broadway producer and Artistic Director BAM; Amy Andrieux – MoCADA; Nikiesha Hamilton; Leonard Paul, DC37
Leaders spoke about how Arts and Culture is a vital economic engine for New York City, impacting nearly every industry in all five boroughs. From hospitality to restaurants, retail to transportation, visitors to arts and culture organizations support the City’s local businesses and generate billions of dollars of revenue annually. With NYC’s tourism number tracking to 2019 numbers, 13% of visitors will visit the City’s museums, gardens, zoos, and the performing arts organizations. Employing more than 400,000 people, arts and culture organizations help create a pipeline so that jobs go to New Yorkers from every background and community. Investing in New Yorkers means investments in the safety, longevity, and sustainability of the City’s neighborhoods. Without significant and equitable investments back into arts and culture, New York City’s residents, economy, school children, and its reputation will have a longer road to an already challenging recovery.
“New York City is the Cultural Capital of the World,” said Councilmember and Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations Chi Osse. “We inherited that title, and now its upkeep is our responsibility. Our world-class cultural institutions enrich our lives and draw visitors from across the globe, bringing vital dollars to our local economy. Government support for these institutions pays for itself many times over in increased economic output and tax revenue, making the sector one of our most impactful investments. In order to maintain what makes our city great, fortify our economy, and serve our people, funding culture must be a top priority.”
Said Majority Leader Keith Powers: “Our cultural institutions inspire, educate, and employ millions of New Yorkers and even more visitors. As we negotiate the FY24 budget, I am proud to fight for the funding they need to have a healthy future and ensure culture is accessible to all. From world-class art to beautiful botanical gardens, every part of our city is better off when our cultural gems are fully funded.”
Said Councilmember and Chair of the Committee on Finance Justin Brannon: “The arts are not ‘extra.’ They are crucial to the social, emotional, and economic wellbeing of New Yorkers and our city. Public investment in the arts opens doors to those of us who would simply not have the opportunity to appreciate the arts, as creators or audience, otherwise. When we invest in the arts, our communities are stronger.”
Said Councilmember Gale Brewer: "When New York City needed institutions to open their spaces to support New Yorkers in need, our arts and cultural institutions stepped up during the pandemic to serve as testing sites, through Summer Rising to support our students and continue to serve as we find ways to welcome the influx of asylum seekers. Our City is stronger because of the vibrancy of the arts and I prioritize culture in the FY24 budget."
Said Councilmember Rita Joseph: "Art is the soul of a city, breathing life into its citizens, empowering communities, enlightening school children, and fueling the very essence of its economy. As we rally in support of arts and culture, let us remember that investing in these invaluable treasures is an investment in the heart and spirit of our beloved city. Today, we call upon Mayor Eric Adams to raise the baseline funding for culture in the FY '24 budget, recognizing that a thriving arts scene is the foundation upon which a vibrant and prosperous New York City stands."
“Culture is not only an essential part of the New York City economy, it is an integral part of inspiring the next generation of scientists, artists, educators, curators, conservationists, and more. The cultural institutions in the Bronx alone employ thousands of young people giving them an opportunity to work and identify their next steps and in their academic and professional careers,” said Councilwoman Amanda Farias. “Investing in culture is investing in our young people, our borough, and our city. Prioritizing culture in this budget is prioritizing the future for all New Yorkers. I support including $50M for culture in the City's budget, including a baselined $40m."
The Arts and Culture community is calling on all New Yorkers to reach out to their local representatives and Mayor Eric Adams letting them know they support increasing the baseline funding for culture in next year’s budget. To learn more about why arts and culture is important, read about the cultural community’s FY 24 budget ask.
New Yorkers for Culture & Arts (NY4CA) is a citywide coalition of artists, culture workers, and cultural organizations from the five boroughs. NY4CA works to connect and support the cultural community, and to unite in advocating for improvied policy and increased funding so that every New Yorker in every community can engage in the transformative power of culture. At this critical time, the city needs to invest in a stable and equitable cultural ecosystem in order to build a new, safe, sane, and vibrant city.
Media contact:
NY4C&A, Lucy Sexton, lucy@ny4ca.org
CIG, Sheryl Victor Levy, svlevy@mcny.org, 917-747-5920