Mission
Through broad coalition-based advocacy, public messaging, research and education, New Yorkers for Culture & Arts aims to ensure a vibrant future for culture and arts that will benefit all New Yorkers. The coalition of cultural groups of every size is committed to securing sustainable government resources and advancing strong public policy to support cultural organizations as well as artists and the cultural workforce at large. In addition, New Yorkers for Culture & Arts will underscore the full impact of culture and arts by building bridges and collaborations with other sectors to help address some of the city’s most significant challenges, including the education of our young people, housing and space affordability, and continued efforts to support the cultural expression and aspirations of diverse populations.
Through the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion, New Yorkers for Culture & Arts will raise the value of culture in the hearts and minds of New Yorkers as essential to the wellbeing of all our neighborhoods —and one that must be nourished by government, philanthropy and by all communities.
Advocacy
promote access and equity to create a city where every New Yorker can engage in culture
work for sound public policy that better support culture and community
fight for sustainable public funding for cultural groups of every size in every borough
Community
Create and maintain a network of cultural groups working throughout NYC
Coordinate public forums with elected officials and member events to address issues of concern for communities
Lead social media and online outreach campaigns raising visibility and support for culture
Connect with citizens engaged with culture in their communities, schools, senior centers
Research
Collect and collate data from a wide variety of sources on the availability, practice, and impact of culture
Create usable one-sheets of easy-to-understand data on culture and arts for use in advocacy efforts by members
Serve as a resource hub disseminating articles and studies and providing advocacy resources in the member section of the web site
History
Beginning in 2015, two of New York City’s leading culture and arts advocacy organizations, the New York City Arts Coalition and One Percent for Culture, agreed to join forces to create a coordinated, robust, and sustainable cultural advocacy organization to ensure that all New Yorkers are able to participate in and benefit from lasting social change through the power of culture and arts.
Over the past two years, through the NYC Inspires campaign, the two organizations have united cultural institutions and Cultural Development Fund groups to advocate for increased funding for the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA). The combined efforts have resulted in a $17 million increase in FY17 to DCLA, an additional $18.5 million in FY18. Following the merger, New Yorkers for Culture & Arts’s campaign resulted in a record-breaking $20 million increase to DCLA for 2019.
In January 2016, the two organizations embarked on a formal two-year merger process with the aid of planning grants from the New York City Cultural Agenda Fund, administered by the New York Community Trust. To guide the merger process, a transitional board was formed from members appointed from each of the organization’s steering committees. Consultants were engaged to assist in each of the two phases of the merger planning process, assess the strengths and limitations of each organization, and identify the characteristics that would contribute to the vigor and effectiveness of the merged entity.