NYC Museum and Culture Leaders Implore Mayor Adams to Restore Arts Funding
Public Letter from Leaders: Generating $22 billion in economic activity, cuts to culture “are unwise and profoundly counter-productive for the financial recovery of New York”
New York, NY, January 16, 2024 – Leaders of New York City’s cultural institutions from across the five boroughs released today a public letter to Mayor Adams strongly urging the City to invest – not cut – funding for culture. Signed by senior executives and board chairs from NYC’s Cultural Institutions Group the letter celebrates Mayor Adams for his wise investment in the cultural field over the first two years of his administration and details the importance of keeping this momentum.
“Simply stated – culture delivers. A mere two years ago, as you took office, you correctly identified that New York City could recover from the economic devastation of COVID only by realizing a return of the tourism economy,” begins the letter. It continues: “[R]ecent budget cuts to the Department of Cultural Affairs, the CIGs, and program groups are unwise and profoundly counter-productive for the financial recovery of New York.“
City funding for culture represents a mere .2 percent of NYC’s $107 billion operating budget – yet the culture sector generates over $22 billion in economic activity. Noting recent budget restorations from the Adams administration to law enforcement, sanitation, and education, NYC CIG leader and BAM Vice President Coco Killingsworth said: “Culture funding delivers jobs, large and unique economic activity, and private philanthropy – and, most importantly, brings joy and wisdom to New Yorkers and our millions of visitors. The tens of thousands of employees who work for City cultural institutions can only make New York the greatest city in the world if we are able to retain this small, yet critical amount of City funding.”
Letter and signatories to follow.
Sheryl Victor Levy, Communications Chair, CIG NYC (svlevy@mcny.org) 917 747 5920
Ken Weine (kenweine@gmail.com) 917 723 4921