Cultural Plan in New York City History
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Forward 7 Executive Summary 11 Introduction 17 Process and Methodology 29 Research and Discovery 35 Engagement 47 What We Heard 59 Strategies 65 Equity and Inclusion EQ 71 Social and Economic Impact SE 83 Affordability AF 93 Neighborhood Character NC 103 Arts, Culture, and Science Education AE 113 Arts and Culture in Public Space PS 125 Citywide Coordination CC 133 Health of the Cultural Sector HS 139 New York City Artists 146 Implementation 157 References 168 Acknowledgements 170 CREATENYC | 3 LETTER FROM THE MAYOR We came into office with a simple idea: every New Yorker, in every borough, deserves to live in a strong, clean, and safe neighborhood that meets their needs. That includes providing all our residents with access to the incredible cultural life that has long defined New York City. Our unmatched cultural diversity can be seen everywhere you look – on sidewalks, in storefronts, and in our museums, theaters, and parks. We are proud to be known as the world capital of arts and culture, and if we are going to continue to live up to that title, we must use every available tool, including our extraordinary network of private, civic, and public partners, to ensure that every resident, in every neighborhood, has the same access to cultural opportunities. CreateNYC is the first comprehensive cultural plan in New York City history. It provides a roadmap to lifting up the arts and culture across the city. This report outlines our strategy for achieving these goals, and I am proud to say that the voices and ideas of close to 200,000 New Yorkers informed the development of this comprehensive plan. From increasing resources for artists and organizations in neighborhoods that haven’t historically received equitable support, getting the word out about cultural offerings, or ensuring that the people who have opportunities to make art in the five boroughs reflect the diversity of our city, you told us what you wanted, and we are committed to realizing this vision. We heard you loud and clear. New York has the largest local budget for culture of any city in America. Now, we also have a strategic plan to help the arts and culture grow across the five boroughs. It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work. BILL DE BLASIO MAYOR CREATENYC | 5 LETTER FROM THE CHAIR CULTURAL PLAN CITIZENS’ ADVISORY COMMITTEE I have had the privilege of serving as Chair of the Cultural Plan Citizens’ CULTURAL PLAN CITIZENS’ Advisory Committee for over a year. I have witnessed a participatory process ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS unlike any other I have ever seen in New York City. The New York City Ben Rodriguez-Cubeñas Department of Cultural Affairs has approached the creation of CreateNYC in Karen Brooks Hopkins the spirit of humility, openness, and inquiry. John Calvelli The Cultural Plan Citizens’ Advisory Committee is comprised of a broad Gianna P. Cerbone-Teoli cross section of New York City’s cultural community. From senior staff Tino Gagliardi of institutions on Museum Mile to board members of cutting-edge Catherine A. Green performing arts centers to leaders of community-based organizations in our neighborhoods to grantmakers and philanthropists to individual artists—the Myrah Brown Green Committee represents all New Yorkers. Joanna Haigood Adam Huttler Throughout this process, I have witnessed and heard from the public and Sandra Jackson-Dumont fellow committee members how transparent and open the process of developing CreateNYC has been: how accessible and responsive our Cultural Arnold Lehman Affairs Commissioner and his team have been; how open they have been to Miguel Luciano trying new ways of engaging you, the public; and how we have a significant Kenneth Pietrobono opportunity to make a big difference in how arts and culture are supported, Tia Powell Harris created, presented, and accessed as part of every New Yorker’s life. Eric Pryor With CreateNYC we are putting forth a set of strategies designed to increase Daisy Rodriguez equity in the City’s support for culture, support for artists and cultural workers Verdery Roosevelt from underrepresented groups, and investment in our neighborhoods. Rosalba Rolón These strategies are for the City and its partners to ensure that more of Amanda Straniere our residents and visitors are engaged in cultural and creative activities and Kenneth Tabachnick experiences. They will help artists, organizations, and institutions expand Tattfoo Tan infrastructure and resources necessary to create meaningful and impactful arts and cultural activities in every borough. And ensure that more people are Jennifer Walden-Weprin supported robustly and equitably. These strategies will inform the work of the City for years to come. This is a historic moment in which the residents of New York City have manifested the importance of arts and culture in their lives and have challenged us to reaffirm public support for our cultural life in a major way. I hope you will join us in championing CreateNYC and the following strategies and working together to ensure that we achieve their desired ends—that everyone who lives in and visits New York City has equitable access to a rich, rewarding, and inspiring cultural life. BEN RODRIGUEZ-CUBEÑAS, CHAIR 97% OF NEW YORKERS VALUE ARTS AND CULTURE CreateNYC New York City Residents Public Opinion Poll, Siena College Research Institute CREATENYC | 7 TOM FINKELPEARL COMMISSIONER FORWARD NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS For CreateNYC, we embarked on a remarkable journey. Our planning process has consisted of developing ideas through an intensive listening process. By its nature, we were seeking to identify and solve problems. But along the way we also heard a lot about the incredible vitality, depth, and breadth of the cultural sector. Much of this plan will focus on what needs to change and set parameters on how that change can take place. We will get to that very soon. But it makes sense to start with a clear reference to what is working. New York City’s cultural world gives us a tremendous amount to celebrate. Millions of New Yorkers engage with arts and culture in every neighborhood in the city. The city boasts a multi-billion-dollar cultural sector that is a magnet for talent and visitors from across the globe, fueling the economy. Arts and culture are also central to "আর�ো সঙ্巀ত healthy, thriving communities in all five boroughs. Some এবং শিল㖪 of this strength has been developed through prolonged সব㖬ত্র" government and philanthropic support. But other cultural “More music groups have emerged from the grassroots level, driven and art by community needs, entrepreneurial spirit, and simple love for what they do. Some artists thrive through the everywhere.” support of well-funded galleries, museums, concert halls, theaters, or dance companies. Others survive in informal — ZAID, RESIDENT, QUEENS spaces or in collectives with disparate streams of self- generated income. New Yorkers can experience nature in well-tended botanical gardens, and then return home to create their own green experience in community gardens. Members of the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) bring scientific research and experiential learning on a grand scale, connecting with millions of students citywide. 8 | CREATENYC FORWARD People marvel at the scale of New York’s cultural world— LOCAL GOVERNMENT the museums, concert halls, zoos, gardens, theaters, clubs, festivals, and public art reach into every corner SUPPORT FOR CULTURE of the city. Private sector support is tremendous, with a The City’s investment in arts and culture stretches vibrant sphere of individual philanthropy and foundations beyond DCLA. Our library systems serve neighborhoods headquartered in New York City. And our public support throughout all five boroughs, and increasingly serve is second to none: no city or state arts council in America as community hubs for cultural engagement. Our city approaches the scale of New York’s Department of is home to world-renowned colleges and universities, Cultural Affairs (DCLA). In the United States, only the including the City University of New York, a powerful federal government spends more on culture each year. engine for social mobility. The New York City Department DCLA’s expense budget far surpasses the investment of Education (DOE) runs by far the largest school system made by other cities, and it only tells part of the story. in the country, and invests hundreds of millions of dollars Our capital investment in the cultural sector is also in arts and science education each year. There has been tremendous, serving over 200 groups with hundreds of tremendous progress in this area in the last three years millions in support. DCLA’s competitive grant-making with 310 new full-time certified arts teachers in our program awards tens of millions of dollars through a schools and increased funding for arts education under peer panel process each year, reaching hundreds of the current Administration. Inter-agency collaborations organizations across all five boroughs. Along with the like Materials for the Arts (DOE, DCLA, Department of City Council, we have just laid the groundwork to double Sanitation) and SU-CASA creative aging program (City the size of our Percent for Art program, bringing world Council, DCLA, Department for the Aging) increase class permanent art installations to public spaces around support for culture even further and integrate the arts the city. into other essential City services. New Yorkers can be very proud of the achievements And the political support for arts and culture is solid, we’ve made in the cultural realm alongside colleagues consistent, and enthusiastic from our partners in the throughout the de Blasio Administration. We’ve launched City Council. From the very inception of CreateNYC, the a diversity, equity, and inclusion effort to promote a City Council has been intimately involved.