TESTIMONY
Laurie Cumbo, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, on the Mayor's Fiscal Year 25 Executive Budget Proposal for NYC Cultural Programs and Initiatives
2:17:41
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14 min
Laurie Cumbo testifies on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget for the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, which allocates $151 million for various cultural programs and initiatives.
- She provides a detailed breakdown of the budget allocations for the Cultural Development Fund, operating subsidies, energy costs, agency operations, and other funding streams.
- Cumbo highlights funding restorations by Mayor Adams totaling over $7.5 million and efforts to reform and improve the Cultural Development Fund process based on feedback.
- She discusses recent capital projects, public art commissions, and cultural milestones celebrated across the city.
- Cumbo emphasizes the department's partnership with the City Council in supporting NYC's cultural sector through initiatives like the CDF and promoting events.
Laurie Cumbo
2:17:41
Thank you.
2:17:43
Good morning.
2:17:43
Cheers, Rivera and Brennan, and members of the Finance And Cultural Affairs Committee.
2:17:48
I am Lori Combo, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
2:17:52
I'm here today to testify in regards to the mayor's fiscal year 25 executive budget proposal as it applies to my agency I am joined today by a number of my staff.
2:18:03
And as you said, chair Rivera, you will hear a lot today of response to many of the hearings that we've had in the past, and we look forward to delivering a lot on many of the suggestions and recommendations that have been made by this council.
2:18:18
I will begin today with a rundown of DCLA's proposed budget for fiscal year 25.
2:18:23
The mayor's executive budget allocates 151,000,000 for the agency in the coming fiscal year.
2:18:29
This includes $27,400,000 for the cultural development fund, 67,800,000 for operating subsidies at the Cultural Institutions Group, 45,100,000 for SIG energy costs, $1,170,000 for create NYC Initiatives, $8,600,000 for agency operations, and $1,750,000 for other funding streams such as energy subsidies.
2:18:56
Note that these figures do not include any funding such as city council member items or initiatives that are typically added at adoption.
2:19:03
By comparison, DCLA's budget at the same point in the process last year was just over 157,000,000.
2:19:11
That means there were more than 80,000,000 added to our budget at adoption last year, when DCLA's budget stood at 241,000,000.
2:19:20
In spite of the fiscal challenges that we've all faced, Our fiscal year 24 budget remains among the largest ever for DCLA and follows record setting investments in culture by the Adams Administration.
2:19:32
The administration support for DCLA also includes a number of peg reductions in previous fiscal years that DCLA was exempted from.
2:19:41
1 of the few agencies to receive such exemptions.
2:19:44
We're proud of this record of support, and we look forward to working toward adopting a budget for fiscal year 25 that builds on this strong foundation.
2:19:53
I'd also like to highlight that the fiscal year 25 include more than 7,500,000 in funding that was restored by Mayor Adams and his executive budget.
2:20:03
This is part of more than 22,000,000 in restorations over 3 fiscal years that the mayor and speaker Adams announced last month.
2:20:11
DCLA along with our fellow agencies was asked to tighten our belts and find savings amid the immense fiscal challenges facing our city.
2:20:19
While it was difficult, We did our part.
2:20:22
Now this strong fiscal management is paying off.
2:20:25
It's what made this restoration possible, and we're thrilled to be able to invest this major sum back into our cultural community.
2:20:32
And the process of making that investment is already underway.
2:20:36
Yesterday, we launched the application for the fiscal year 5 cultural development fund.
2:20:41
And as you know, this is one of the primary ways that the city supports the nonprofit cultural community that is such an important part of New York.
2:20:49
For fiscal year 24, we invested over 52,000,000 in 1031 groups through the CDF in partnership with the council.
2:20:59
The funding goes to groups of all shapes and sizes in every corner of all five boroughs.
2:21:04
And this is in thanks and parts to the council's close collaboration.
2:21:08
My team will be sending you tool kits to promote the fiscal year 25 CDF application, as well as the call for panelists to review applications.
2:21:17
No one knows your districts like you do, and we appreciate your partnership in spreading the word about this critical source of support for the city's nonprofit cultural community.
2:21:26
We really need your support in getting the word out.
2:21:29
We really need your support at your community boards when you make those announcements to help us to recruit for more panelists.
2:21:36
And to make sure that we have the most robust panelists assembled from all five boroughs, and your partnership is critical in that.
2:21:44
We're excited to roll out several changes to the CDF process this year because of the feedback that we've gotten from these hearings and so many other aspects of communication with the field.
2:21:55
These are part of the ongoing reform efforts to make this funding stream as transparent and as equitable as possible.
2:22:02
We have always said this would be an ongoing pilot process, one that we would continue to refine to find the fairest most equitable ways to administer.
2:22:10
We started with changes that included doubling the minimum grant size and making currently funded groups eligible for multi year awards.
2:22:18
Regardless of their budget size.
2:22:20
These are just a few of the reforms that we've already seen paid dividends.
2:22:24
Since rolling out the initial forms.
2:22:26
Forms like these hearings have been critical ways for us to learn about how the reforms are working on the ground.
2:22:32
I've stayed after delivering my own testimony to listen to dozens of groups testify from across the city.
2:22:38
And we thank each of those organizations that come here and take time away from their organizations to provide critical testimony that helped shape this process.
2:22:48
I've joined constituent led conversations like those that happen at Culture at 3 to listen to feedback.
2:22:54
My team and I have been in constant dialogue with constituents from across the city, at events, at site visits, in one on one conversations, since we launched the reform efforts in fiscal year 23 and were eager to adopt several new reforms this year as a result.
2:23:10
This year's changes include Adding a brand new ban for applicants with budget sizes of 1,500,000 up to 3,000,000.
2:23:19
Previously, this ban included groups from 500,000 up to 3,000,000 with a minimum award size of 30,000.
2:23:26
However, in practice, we saw that this lump together incredibly disparate groups and prevented many midsize organizations from receiving more significant awards reflective of the reach of their programming.
2:23:39
Now the minimum for this new budget ban will be $40,000 in effort to give more city support to midsize institutions which are community anchors for neighborhoods across the boroughs.
2:23:50
Another reform I'm excited to roll out this year is the CDF safety net.
2:23:56
One concern that we've heard loud and clear, especially from council member Brewer, in our dialogue with the field is that groups which had received long term support from CDF had been unexpectedly reduced or their applications denied funding entirely.
2:24:12
This is funding they relied on to support their roles as long time community based institutions.
2:24:17
And when they didn't receive it, the implications were too often very dire.
2:24:22
To avoid the situation, groups that have received CDF support for 6 years or more in a row will no longer be in this position of being zeroed out.
2:24:31
If eligible groups receive CDF panel scores low enough to mean they would not be funded in fiscal year 25, Instead, they'll now receive a safety net award of up to half the average of their total CDF baseline awards from the prior 6 fiscal years.
2:24:47
Many members of the council and leaders in the cultural sector advocated for us to find a way to maintain support for such institutions and we listened.
2:24:56
We think this will help reduce the uncertainty for CDF grantees who have long track records of doing great cultural programming in their communities.
2:25:05
Another change I'm excited to bring forward is bringing direct counsel representation back to the CDF process.
2:25:11
This will make sure your unique on the ground understanding of your communities is included in the application review process.
2:25:19
Chair Rivera, I know my staff has briefed your team on these changes.
2:25:23
We're happy to offer briefings to anyone else who wants to learn more and provide feedback into the process as we continue to work toward fostering a more transparent Equitable CDF.
2:25:33
We are partners in this all the way.
2:25:36
I want to turn now to a few other recent developments and highlights from the agency.
2:25:41
DCLA's capital program, which is a partnership between the mayor, counsel and bureau presidents, continues to deliver incredible cultural assets for all New Yorkers.
2:25:50
At the end of March, I was delighted to join Sierra Vera to break ground on the renovation of the home of the Newureican Poets Cafe on the Lower East Side.
2:25:58
It was a proud moment for both of us that day.
2:26:01
The city has provided more than $24,000,000 for a complete renovation of this important institution.
2:26:07
An investment in its future as an anchor of Puerto Rican and Latinx heritage in this rapidly changing community.
2:26:14
I was also recently at the aputure foundation's future home on the Upper West Side, where I joined council member Brewer to break ground on this exciting project.
2:26:22
The city has invested 1,000,000 in Aperture's permanent home, which will become a hub of public engagement built around the work of this storied photography organization, and I homic publication.
2:26:33
And the only thing more exciting than picking up a shovel to get a project started is when you grab a pair of scissors to cut the ribbon on a completed project, We recently joined our partners at the Parks department to cut the ribbon on an incredible new building at Socrates Sculpture Park, which I hope you all will come and visit.
2:26:50
While this was a parks department capital project, we are proud supporters of programming at Socrates and are thrilled for this amazing support for our cultural institution from our partners at parks.
2:27:00
And these new buildings, former shipping containers, which are the 1st permanent structure of the park, will be transformative for the organization's programming giving them a weatherproof space to engage New Yorkers year round.
2:27:11
It's been great seeing a number of you at events celebrating other important cultural milestones across the city.
2:27:17
I joined Council member Salamanca to mark the Bronx Zoo 120 5th anniversary.
2:27:22
A great example of how long term public private partnerships can foster incredible cultural assets that attract visitors and uplift residents.
2:27:31
The Bronx Zoo, I'm sure to note, is the largest youth employer in the Bronx.
2:27:35
I also saw council member Hanks at the celebration marking the 25th anniversary of the New York Chinese scholars garden located at the grounds of the Snug Harbor Cultural Campus on Staten Island.
2:27:46
It is a must see.
2:27:47
The stunning outdoor space brings the beauty of the Ming Dynasty Gardens and Chinese culture right to Staten Island's North Shore.
2:27:55
And Cheri Rivera is proud to join you to officially codename East Twenty Third Street, SVA Way.
2:28:00
In recognition of this incredible impact that the school of the visual arts has had on New York, since its founding 75 years ago.
2:28:08
And I had a blast at this past weekend's dance parade, which if all of you have not been, This is pure magic in New York City.
2:28:16
It transformed the streets of the district into New York's hottest dance party.
2:28:21
And all jokes aside, dance, and the performing arts are such important parts of what make this city great.
2:28:26
So if you really wanna see the culture of New York City, Dance is such a great way to do it at this parade.
2:28:32
Dance is one of the one things that really of many things that makes New York City great.
2:28:37
Public art is another.
2:28:38
Earlier this year, we had an amazing celebration at Gracie Mansion, where we marked the fortieth anniversary of the city's percent for art program, Since it was established in the early 19 eighties, percent for artists transformed schools, libraries, Plaza's parts, and other civic spaces through the commissioning of over 400 works a site specific permanent artwork.
2:28:58
To celebrate, we launched a new interactive map and a website highlighting percent commissions in all five boroughs.
2:29:04
Many of the artworks featured on the map include audio interviews with artists and arts administrators who were involved in the project's creation.
2:29:12
I encourage you to check it out at on.nyc.gov/percent40.
2:29:19
When it comes to public art, we're not resting on our laurels.
2:29:22
Shortly after we celebrated its fortieth anniversary at the Peoples House, we joined mayor Adams to announce the revival of the she built NYC program honoring great women from New York City history with monuments and all five boroughs.
2:29:37
The first of these projects to be announced, a monument honoring the great Shirley Chisholm and Prospect Park is already well underway.
2:29:44
The CDC unanimously approved its visionary design last year, and we continue to work with the artisan community to create something that pays tribute to Chisholm's legacy.
2:29:54
Now with our recent announcement, we're ready to build monuments to 4 other incredible women, Doctor Helen Rodriguez triage in the Bronx, Billy Holiday in Queens, Catherine Walker in Staten Island, and Elizabeth Jennings Graham in Manhattan.
2:30:08
We currently have an open call for artists to design these monuments, learn more atnyc.gov/culture.
2:30:17
The sheet built NYC projects are just the tip of the iceberg.
2:30:20
Our public art team is moving forward on exciting commissions all over the city.
2:30:24
We're working on new artwork from Medgar Evers High School in Brooklyn, 1 of more than 20 school projects were expected to install this year and on new commissions for libraries across the city.
2:30:36
I'm also very excited to announce that just yesterday, artist Ken Seth Armstead's proposal for abolitionist Place in Brooklyn was unanimously approved by the public design commission.
2:30:46
This artwork will honor the legacy of the movement to abolish slavery.
2:30:50
Which had deep roots in the area around this incredible new open space.
2:30:54
And last but never least, our materials for the arts program continues to collect donated items that fuels arts programming across the city.
2:31:02
It's been particularly gratifying to join the amazing MFTA team for their new initiative to deliver supplies to arts educators that drop off sites across the 5 boroughs.
2:31:13
In addition to delivering much needed fives, the MFTA education team runs workshops for participating educators to introduce new ways of working with the unique materials you encounter in the warehouse.
2:31:24
I saw them in action in Jamaica Center for the Arts And Learning in Queens and Snug Harbor on Staten Island.
2:31:30
I encourage educators and arts groups to visit nyc.gov/mfta to see how they can get involved at all the great action.
2:31:40
And I could go on and on about the amazing work happening at DCLA because there's so much.
2:31:45
And the incredible programming we're proud to support across the city, but I certainly want to leave plenty of time for all the questions, comments, and feedback from this incredible body.
2:31:56
But in the interest of time, I will stop here.
2:31:58
I thank you for the opportunity to testify today, and I'm so happy to answer all questions that you might have today.
2:32:05
Thank you so much.
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Why were the Program to Eliminate the Gap (PEGs) not fully restored this year and did the Department of Cultural Affairs fight for full restoration of the Scheduling and Grants (Sigs) and Cultural Development Fund (CDFs) budgets with city hall?
