Announcement Follows On-Time, Balanced, and Fiscally-Responsible $112.4 Billion Adopted Budget That Invests in Future of New York City
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today celebrated a historic investment in the city’s cultural institutions as part of an on-time, balanced, and fiscally-responsible $112.4 billion Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Adopted Budget that addresses the city’s affordability crisis head-on and invests in the future of the city and the working-class people who make New York the greatest city in the world. The FY25 Adopted Budget ensures cultural institutions will have what they need to engage New Yorkers and attract tourists and other visitors, as a critical part of the city’s economic and social wellbeing. After making multiple investments in New York City's cultural sector, including by restoring more than $22 million to the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) for the city's Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) and Cultural Development Fund (CDF) in Mayor Adams’ Executive Budget proposal, Mayor Adams and the City Council went even further in the FY25 Adopted Budget by restoring an additional $53 million. DCLA now has a record high budget of $254 million that will support over 1,000 cultural nonprofits citywide.
Last month, the City Council voted to pass the FY25 Budget. After the budget handshake announcement, New Yorkers from across the city, including multiple cultural institutions and organizations, praised the budget for its wide-ranging investments that help protect public safety, rebuild the economy, and make New York City more affordable and livable.
“Cultural institutions are the beating heart of our city,” said Mayor Adams. “Our cultural institutions break down barriers, teach us about the world around us, and make New York City the globe’s cultural hub. Thanks to our cultural institutions, our economy is thriving, and tourists are returning to our city to explore the best in arts, culture, and entertainment. Today, our administration is doubling down on our commitment to culturals and investing an all-time record high to ensure that the sector continues to thrive and that both New Yorkers and visitors have affordable places to learn, explore, and have fun.”
“In every corner of New York City, our cultural community creates world-class programming that drives our local economy, attracts visitors from across the globe, strengthens our communities, and helps us express who we are,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “With Mayor Adams’ historic investment in the Department of Cultural Affairs, we demonstrate our deep commitment to this crucial sector. Investing in culture means investing in New Yorkers. We are grateful to everyone who advocated for our cultural community, and proud that we were able to deliver for them thanks to our strong fiscal management.”
“Once again, the Adams administration is showing up for our cultural community with a historic investment that will put people to work, deliver extraordinary cultural programs in every corner of our city, and make New York a safer, stronger, more vibrant place for all of us,” said DCLA Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “I want to give a shout out to the advocates, artists, cultural workers, and others who showed up at hearings, rallies, and other engagements to make the case for culture to their fellow New Yorkers. We know that culture inspires individuals, strengthens communities, and drives the economy. Now, with another record city investment in this important sector, we in local government are ready to continue partnering with our remarkable cultural community to continue delivering these benefits to residents in all five boroughs.”
Cultural institutions are a critical part of New York City's social and economic fabric, which New Yorkers depend on for education, community building, and the overall vibrancy of the city. The $53 million will go to support public programming at more than 1,000 cultural nonprofits citywide through DCLA’s Cultural Development Fund and Cultural Institutions. These funding streams invest in cultural groups across all disciplines, in all shapes and sizes, working in every corner of the five boroughs. The wide range of free summer cultural programs highlighted by DCLA earlier this year is just one example of the range of cultural programming that receives city support.
Thanks to the Adams administration’s ongoing strong fiscal management, which was bolstered by better-than-expected revenue growth, the administration overcame unprecedented challenges in this budget cycle to stabilize the city’s financial outlook and close a $7.1 billion budget gap in January. Now, because of steady, decisive decision making, this adopted budget allows the Adams administration and the City Council to reinvest in initiatives and programs that make New York City more affordable and that address the three things that cost New Yorkers the most — housing, child care, and health care — and that invest billions of dollars of city resources in critical areas, including early childhood education, cultural organizations, parks, public safety, housing, health care, and more.
Mayor Adams, DCLA Commissioner Cumbo, and other members of the administration have collaborated on many new initiatives to support the city’s vibrant cultural sector and bring the arts to all New Yorkers. In February, DCLA announced more than $52 million in grants for 1,031 nonprofits through the CDF, which is part of this budget investment for FY25 and FY26. With support from Mayor Adams, the City Council, and borough presidents, DCLA also announced more than $209 million in new funding for cultural capital projects across the city included in the FY24 budget in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan
Under the Adams administration, the city has also announced new initiatives to support artists and bring arts programming to residents in every corner of the city. Mayor Adams convened the city’s first-ever Live Performance Industry Council to address issues facing this industry. The new City Canvas program will transform unsightly sidewalks sheds, construction sheds, and scaffolding into platforms for creative expression. The revived She Built NYC program will honor remarkable women from New York City history with monuments in all five boroughs. A new, interactive map launched as part of the 40th anniversary of the city’s Percent for Art program makes the city’s public art collection more accessible than ever before. And efforts to bring temporary art installations into City Hall and other public buildings have, most recently, included an exhibition at City Hall that explores “the Greatest Day in Hip-Hop” and celebrates LGBTQIA+ artists for Pride Month.
“The Museum of the City of New York is delighted to learn of the restoration of cuts to the cultural sector,” said Stephanie Hill Wilchfort, Ronay Menschel director and president, Museum of the City of New York (MCNY). “This support will allow MCNY to open seven days a week starting on July 1. The museum's exhibitions exploring history, popular culture, and art will be open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the first time since the pandemic. City support also allows the museum to operate as a cooling center, open at no charge to anyone who seeks relief from warm weather. Free admission is provided to children under the age of 18 at all times. Thank you to Mayor Adams and his administration, Speaker Adams and the City Council, and DCLA Commissioner Laurie Cumbo for their commitment to arts and culture in New York City and to our museum’s work.”
“New Yorkers can celebrate a huge victory in the full restoration of funding for culture and art in the FY25 Adopted Budget. We applaud Mayor Adams, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer and DCLA Commissioner Laurie Cumbo for supporting cultural organizations, both large and small, and their understanding of these anchor institutions and the economic impact this sector has on the city,” said John F. Calvelli, executive vice president, public affairs, Wildlife Conservation Society. “We thank the many champions for culture on the City Council, including Speaker Adrienne Adams, Finance Chair Justin Brannan, and Cultural Chair Carlina Rivera. This support from the city directly helps organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium remain economic engines for the city and continue to educate and inspire millions of New Yorkers to become stewards of nature.”
“The Metropolitan Museum of Art is grateful to Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams for their tireless work and leadership in delivering a comprehensive budget that recognizes the immeasurable value and impact cultural institutions have across this city,” said Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan Museum of Art Max Hollein. “With this allocation, nonprofits big and small can continue to serve as both vital economic engines and creative safe havens that all New Yorkers can rely on.”
“On behalf of the New York Botanical Garden, I applaud Mayor Eric Adams, Speaker Adrienne Adams, and their leadership teams for restoring funding to the Department of Cultural Affairs and cultural anchors in all five boroughs,” said Jennifer Bernstein, CEO and The William C. Steere Sr. president, New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). “NYBG is the backyard of many Bronx families, providing free critical access to nature and the myriad physical and emotional benefits it offers. Cultural anchors like NYBG keep kids engaged, focused, curious, and excited about their natural world; and we help produce the scientists, scholars, businesspeople, artists, and well-rounded adults of tomorrow. None of this would be possible without funding from the City of New York, and we deeply appreciate the restorations agreed upon here today.”
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