$18.3 Million Allocated Over Next Three Fiscal Years to Cultural Institutions Group, Supporting 34 Cultural Organizations Operated on City-Owned Property
$4.3 Million Allocated Over Next Two Fiscal Years to Cultural Development Fund,
Supporting Over 1,000 Cultural Nonprofits Across the City
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams today announced that, thanks to strong fiscal management, the city will make multiple investments in New York City’s cultural sector by allocating more than $22 million over the next three fiscal years for the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) as part of the city’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Executive Budget. The investment includes $18.3 million over the next three fiscal years for the 34 members of the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG). These institutions — including museums, performing arts centers, historical societies, zoos, and botanical gardens — operate on city-owned property and serve as community anchors and economic engines for neighborhoods in all five boroughs. Over the next two fiscal years, the FY25 Executive Budget will also allocate $4.3 million to the Cultural Development Fund (CDF), which supports over 1,000 cultural nonprofits across the city annually, investing in a wide range of groups that represent the backbone of the city’s remarkable cultural community.
“Our people, arts, and culture are the heart and soul of New York City, and they are the cornerstone of our economic rebound,” said Mayor Adams. “New Yorkers, alongside tourists from every corner of the globe, enjoy our world-class museums, theaters, performing arts centers, and more. Our strong fiscal management has enabled us to put money back into the cultural organizations that do so much for us, and with this investment of more than $22 million we are reaffirming our commitment to this vital sector.”
“New York City must invest in the success of our cultural institutions if we are to remain the cultural capital of the world — continuing to benefit from the estimated $110 billion in annual activity the cultural economy generates for our city,” said Speaker Adams. “Today’s joint announcement with Mayor Adams is an important down payment for our cultural sector in the Executive Budget that establishes a foundation to build upon for the final city budget. Our arts and cultural institutions are essential pillars of our city's communities that the Council has consistently championed adequate funding to support. We look forward to our continued work with the administration and all stakeholders to deliver a budget that invests the necessary funds for a healthy and robust cultural sector.”
“Thanks to our city’s sound fiscal management, we are able to invest in our city’s invaluable cultural groups, ensuring that New York City remains a vibrant hub of creativity, diversity, and expression for all New Yorkers,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “Our cultural institutions are the lifeblood of New York City, reflecting our city’s diversity and we are proud to continue to support these organizations with a $22 million investment.”
“Art and culture are what make our city unique, driving our economy and strengthening our communities,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “Thanks to strong fiscal stewardship across city government through the unprecedented challenges we've faced, I'm thrilled to announce an investment of more than $22 million for the thousands of creative organizations across the five boroughs. This funding will strengthen organizations of all sizes and will ensure that our vibrant artistic community continues to thrive, inspire, and unite us all.”
“Culture is the heartbeat of New York City, and the cultural institutions that my agency supports across the city are where the real work happens — incubating artists, engaging audiences, and creating community,” said DCLA Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “We had to tighten our belts along with our fellow agencies in light of the fiscal challenges our city has faced, but we're overjoyed for today's announcement that we'll be able to invest a significant portion of this funding in this year's budget, and in the upcoming years. Culture in New York City is a public-private partnership, and we're proud to remain the largest funder of art and culture in America. We look forward to continuing to work with and investing in our remarkable cultural organizations.”
By stabilizing the city’s budget and fiscal outlook, the Adams administration has been able to invest city and state recurring dollars and protect $22.6 million for cultural institutions. Cultural organizations continue to engage New Yorkers and attract visitors to New York City, as the city boasted its fourth highest year for tourism in 2023 and projects even more visitors in 2024. According to the Mayor’s Management Report, attendance at CIG-member institutions increased more than 60 percent in FY23 over FY21.
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 $222 million in new funding for cultural capital projects across the city, in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island.
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.” Today’s announcement also aligns with the “‘New’ New York: Making New York Work for Everyone” plan, which includes recommendations to invest in culture, as well as supporting artists, artist spaces, and artist organizations — including through increased support for cultural organizations.
NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo joined community and cultural leaders from across the Bronx to announce new capital funding for cultural capital projects across the borough, including $2 million in new funding for The New York Botanical Garden’s (NYBG) state-of-the-art Site Operations Center, which will be among the first “net-positive energy” facilities in the Bronx when it’s complete. With this allocation, the City has contributed over $15 million to the NYBG project to date. As part of an ongoing five borough tour, Commissioner Cumbo also highlighted critical capital investments for cultural groups across the Bronx, including funding for projects at the Bronx County Historical Society, Bronx Museum, The Point, Pregones / PRTT Traveling Theater, Wave Hill, and the Bronx Zoo. These awards are part of Mayor Adams’ $117 million investment for FY 2024 in cultural capital projects across all five boroughs.
The New York Botanical Garden (NYBG) will completely rebuild its outdated operations yard into a 21st century Site Operations Center. The City of New York is the lead funder for this innovative and sustainable project, which also meets the daily work needs of the Garden's core DC37 workforce—the building service employees, engineers, carpenters, and administrative staff who maintain NYBG as an open, accessible, and safe sanctuary for the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and their families who visit NYBG each year. The operations center is also designed to be energy net positive; feature innovative building techniques such as mass timber construction, geothermal wells, and a solar photovoltaic system; targets LEED Platinum certification; and will likely be one of the most sustainable public buildings yet constructed with City funding.
“Our cultural institutions highlight the very best of the Bronx and highlight the rich beauty and diversity of our great borough,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Today’s announcement ensures our cultural gems such as the New York Botanical Garden receive the necessary funding to upgrade their facilities with state-of-the-art equipment and demonstrates Mayor Adams’ commitment to equitably support arts and culture throughout our city. Thank you to Mayor Eric Adams, Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, the New York City Council, advocates, and everyone else who was involved in making this announcement possible. When our cultural groups are supported, our residents, visitors, youth, and families win.”
