Mayor Adams’ Executive Budget Stabilized Annual Funding Levels Supporting the 34 Cultural Organizations Operated on City-Owned Property and over 1,000 Cultural Nonprofits Across the City
NEW YORK (May 21, 2024) — Cultural Organizations across New York City today call on Mayor Adams and the City Council to support a $30 million increase to the arts and culture budget. The Fiscal 2026 Executive Budget increased the baseline budget for culture by $45 million. This historic increase resets the baseline to match the standard operating level and stabilizes the budget. While the Executive Budget stabilizes the current funding level, it does not increase it over last year.
The $30 million increase to the baseline would fund public programs, support operating costs, and build resilience as federal policies and funding cuts threaten the viability of NYC’s institutions, programs and the livelihoods of NYC artists.
“The city’s culture and arts organizations are under attack from the federal government, with devastating cuts already hitting groups in every borough,” said Lucy Sexton, New Yorkers for Culture & Arts. “The Mayor has taken an historic first step to support the creative sector by adding $45M to the baseline funding for the Department of Cultural Affairs. The Council has a once in a lifetime opportunity to take the next step by investing $30M more in baseline funding so that culture can thrive in every neighborhood and every borough. Cultural activity is an economic engine, generating more than $110B in economic activity! This is the best investment the city can make to keep our economy and our communities strong in these turbulent times.”
Eddie Venegas, famed musician currently in Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway will deliver remarks along with cultural leaders: Coco Killingsworth, BAM, Chair of Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), Mino Lora, Director of The People's Theatre, Judith Insell, Bronx Arts Ensemble, Jessica Phillips, Historic Richmond Town, Justin Daniel, NYC Arts in Ed Roundtable, Lucy Sexton, New Yorkers for Culture & Arts, Karen Fisher of Local 802 AFM, and Andrew Rigie, Executive Director, NYC Hospitality Alliance. Members of the City Council will also speak. There will be performances by middle- and high-school students from The People's Theatre Academy, and the senior chorus from Chinese American Planning Committee (CPC)’s Open Door Senior Center and middle- and high-school students from The People's Theatre Academy.
"New York's arts organizations and cultural institutions are a vital part of what makes our city exceptional. They are not just major economic drivers, they are the heart and soul of our communities, enriching our lives and showcasing our values. In the face of ongoing challenges, from the slow recovery of tourism to shifting federal policies that threaten funding, we must ensure that the arts and culture sector is fully supported in the coming fiscal year. Investing in the arts is investing in the future of New York and I remain committed to working to protect and expand funding for our vital cultural nonprofits,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs and Libraries.
"When the city supports our cultural institutions, it’s also supporting local restaurants and bars. People go out to see a show or visit a museum and then they grab a bite to eat or a drink nearby. It’s all connected, and it drives the vibrancy, creativity, and economy in our neighborhoods,” said Andrew Rigie, Executive Director, NYC Hospitality Alliance.
“Our cultural institutions are the heart and soul of our city,” said Coco Killingsworth, Chair of the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG). “While we are grateful for the $45 million baselined in the Executive Budget, the Cultural Institutions Group calls for an additional $30 million baseline increase to the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) budget to cover rising costs, support enhanced programming, and safeguard our sector against federal threats, This funding will build on the city’s commitment to culture and boost city support for cultural institutions, programs and artists closer to its historic level.”
“Cultural institutions are essential to New York City, and the rich diversity of arts programming opportunities they offer is crucial to providing a holistic education for our students. Their continued partnerships with schools across our city are a lifeline for students who otherwise lack access to the arts. The city should recognize the critical role that the cultural arts have on our students’ wellbeing and increase the baseline funding for cultural institutions. A $30 million baseline increase to the City's culture budget would give our city's artists, programs and institutions a historical level of support and boost opportunities for arts education across our public schools.” said Kimberly Olsen, Executive Director of the New York City Arts in Education Roundtable.
"The arts allow us to process the reality we are currently living in as New Yorkers, as immigrants, and as people of color in this country. Through theatre, we come together to lean on one another, learn from each other, and gather the courage and strength to move forward,” said Mino Lora, Executive Artistic Director for The People's Theatre. “Today, when our federal government has openly pushed back on artists and arts organizations, we join the calls of our sector for our City to step in and step up. We ask of our administration and city council to increase the municipal DCLA arts budget by $30M, as well as expand cultural council initiatives, such as Coalition of Theatres of Color, that are essential for artistic programming in non-profit arts organizations across the city to not only survive but thrive."
"Bronx Arts Ensemble has sustained its 53 years of service to the citizens of the Bronx through supportive funding from the City of New York, year after year, over the span of its existence. Last year (FY25), Bronx Arts Ensemble was denied funding from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs’ Cultural Development Fund (CDF) but managed to persevere through a difficult year and remained in operation. Thankfully, our organization was awarded funding from CDF this fiscal year, but at only 1/2 the level that we had previously received in years past,” said Judith Insell, Executive Director, Bronx Arts Ensemble. “The Cultural Development Fund is NOT being allocated the necessary level of funding needed in the city's budget and unfortunately this has been the case for decades. To sustain the Bronx Arts Ensemble & the 1,100+ NYC arts & culture institutions applying for funds from the Cultural Development Fund, there must be a commitment made by the City of New York to baseline an allocation of $75 million+ to support the CDF in the upcoming FY26 budget to ensure New York City remains the "arts & culture capital of the world."
"Culture and the arts are not extras—they are the heartbeat of New York City, and funding them means investing in the soul of our communities,” said Jessica Philips, CEO Historic Richmond Town.
“When people think of New York City, they think of its rich artistic, historical, and cultural landscape, powered by the institutions, organizations, and artists that define our city. This year’s budget presents a real opportunity to move the cultural sector beyond survival and towards expansion,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif, Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus and Member of the Council’s Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup Relations. “I’m proud to join New Yorkers for Culture and Arts in calling for a $30 million baseline increase to support 1,800+ nonprofits—including theaters, museums, gardens—along with the 34 Cultural Institutions Group members and 1,000+ Cultural Development Fund grantees.”
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