New York, NY – Over $2.8 million in additional funding will be allocated to over 175 cultural
organizations in underserved communities.
This funding is being made available thanks to an agreement allowing the Metropolitan Museum of Art to charge mandatory admission to visitors from outside of New York State in exchange for sharing a portion of the new revenue with the City. DCLA committed to use this revenue to support the CreateNYC cultural plan, which identified cultural funding equity as one of its top priorities.
“New York is the cultural capital of the world not only because of our hallmark institutions, but because of the smaller museums, shows, and organizations throughout the five boroughs,” said Mayor de Blasio “They deserve meaningful investment too. This agreement has allowed the Met to thrive while giving us a unique opportunity to increase cultural investment in our underserved communities – allowing us to support the diversity that makes our city great at no additional cost to taxpayers.”
According the the New York City Mayors Office, this marks another step toward fostering a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive cultural sector that serves all New Yorkers. Related efforts include the Department of Cultural Affairs’ initiative to promote a more diverse cultural workforce. DCLA has also created a number of new programs aimed at engaging historically underserved populations, including people with disabilities and non-English speakers.
“I am thrilled to see an additional $2.8 million invested in over 175 outstanding cultural organizations across NYC,” said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs. “This will empower them to expand programming and reach greater audiences from all backgrounds.”
