What would it look like if NYC Invested $50 million in support of its communities?

A mural on PS 84 in South Williamsburg, created through a partnership with El Puente and Los Muralistas, photo c/o El Puente

by Caron Atlas, Arts & Democracy and NOCD-NY
and Tamara Greenfield, Fourth Arts Block (FABnyc) and NOCD-NY

New York City’s recent capital investment of $50 million dollars in the Culture Shed mega project begs the question – how would a $50 million dollar capital investment in the culture and wellbeing of New York City’s diverse neighborhoods look? This investment in our city’s neighborhood cultural hubs and small arts organizations would provide space for artists to rehearse and make new work, develop the creative leadership of young mediamakers, support libraries and schools as cultural centers, develop public art that embraces a full range of cultural practices, and strengthen the cultural networks of immigrant communities. New York City is driven by this diverse cultural expression. It’s where we incubate the city of the future, and strengthen the cultural infrastructure and local leadership that supports us in times of adversity.

In 2010, 40% of all city arts funding went to just five of the largest cultural organizations.[1]  What if public funding recognized that a resilient city and an engaged democracy are rooted in strong and culturally dynamic communities?

At The Future of Education, Arts, and Culture mayoral forum in New York City candidate after candidate spoke about the importance of the arts – for community revitalization, critical thinking, youth development, resilience, and as nourishment for our souls.  Ultimately, however, their message was that in hard times, with austerity budgets, the arts are a luxury. But it is precisely in hard times that arts and cultural are essential; engaging our communities to create the fair and equitable city we all deserve.

[1] The Art$ Part 1, Man About Town Blog, August 2012