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Q&A
Interest in bringing more art and performances to public spaces
0:22:21
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Council Member Feliz inquires about SBS noticing interest in bringing more art and performances to public spaces to help revitalize commercial corridors and adjacent areas. Haris Khan confirms a significant interest, particularly during the pandemic, in utilizing public spaces for art, culture, and vibrancy.
- Increased interest in public spaces, pedestrian plazas, and open streets during the pandemic
- New Yorkers want to see art, culture, and vibrancy back on commercial corridors
- SBS has emphasized the intersection of arts, culture, and economic development over the past three years
- The agency launched a $650,000 public realm grant and incorporated arts and culture into other grant programs
Oswald Feliz
0:22:21
Has SBS noticed an interest in bringing more art and performances to public spaces to help revitalize our commercial corridors.
0:22:28
Commercial corridors, but also areas such as public plazas, next to commercial corridors.
0:22:34
And more?
0:22:35
Yes.
0:22:35
And I think
Haris Khan
0:22:36
most New Yorkers saw that interest just during the pandemic as we saw the need to rely on public spaces, pedestrian pluses, open streets, and and many New Yorkers just wanting to walk down their commercial borders.
0:22:48
There's been tremendous interest in seeing art and culture and just vibrancy back on our commercial quarters.
0:22:54
And that is why you're seeing an emphasis by the agency over the past 3 years and really focusing in on this intersection between arts, culture, economic development.
0:23:03
We see it through not only this public realm, that is $650,000, but beyond that, making sure that all of our programming, wherever it makes sense for a local community based organization, to do those kinds of interventions, enabling them with the other grants as well.
0:23:18
They're not limited to the public realm grant, but we're doubling down on it with this initiative that the commissioner announced in August.
0:23:25
Okay.
Oswald Feliz
0:23:25
So what are different grants that or initiatives that would be useful to activating public spaces?