PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Rachel Neches, Data Researcher at Center For an Urban Future
2:16:34
ยท
158 sec
Rachel Neches, representing the Center For an Urban Future, testifies on the importance of strengthening New York City's creative economy and expanding pathways into the arts and culture workforce. She highlights the significance of the creative economy in employment and wages while emphasizing the need for greater diversity and representation.
- The creative economy employs over 300,000 New Yorkers but lacks diversity, with people of color being underrepresented.
- Recommendations include launching a creative economy talent pipeline initiative and creating a renewed NYC artist corps.
- The testimony emphasizes the potential for artists to contribute to solving city challenges in areas such as housing, education, and climate change.
Rachel Neches
2:16:34
Hello.
2:16:36
Good afternoon.
2:16:38
My name is Rachel Neches, and I am the data researcher at the Center For an Urban Future, an independent research organization focused on building a stronger and more equitable New York City.
2:16:50
I'll be sharing today's testimony on behalf of our editorial and policy director, Eli Devorkin.
2:16:57
Thank you for the opportunity.
2:16:58
I'd like to begin by commending chair Rivera and the committee for highlighting the importance of strengthening the city's creative economy and expanding pathways into the arts and culture workforce for New Yorkers.
2:17:15
The creative economy, including advertising, film and TV, fashion, architecture, design, and independent artists, employs more than 300,000 New Yorkers, has grown significantly over the past 2 decades, and pays well above the citywide median wage.
2:17:36
But these industries have a long way to go before they look like the rest of New York City.
2:17:42
Our recent report found that black workers hold fewer than 8% of the city's advertising jobs, but represent nearly 21% of the city's total workforce.
2:17:54
In fact, New Yorkers of color are underrepresented across the creative economy.
2:18:00
There are a number of actions that the city should take to help expand access to careers and culture and the broader creative economy.
2:18:07
One of the most important next steps should be to launch a creative economy talent pipeline initiative aimed at boosting career pathways for underrepresented New Yorkers into the city's creative sector.
2:18:21
This effort should incubate and expand initiatives and partnerships with creative economy employers and nonprofits, which many of which receive little, if any, city funding today, replicate the success of CUNY 2x Tech for the creative sector through a CUNY 2x Creative initiative, and build on innovative partnerships developed by some of the city's career and technical education high schools.
2:18:47
The city also has an opportunity to put artists to work by addressing some of New York's biggest challenges, harnessing their creativity to advance solutions in housing, education, climate change, and more.
2:19:00
A renewed ongoing version of the NYC artist corps could help do just that.
2:19:05
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today and for bringing attention to the importance of expanding pathways to creative careers.