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Q&A
Adequacy of DCLA resources and increase in cultural funding
2:27:54
ยท
162 sec
Commissioner Laurie Cumbo addresses the adequacy of DCLA resources and highlights recent increases in cultural funding and support for local arts councils.
- DCLA has passed the three largest cultural budgets in New York City's history
- 15% increase in funding for local arts councils, the largest in their history
- New hires to improve grant administration and support for cultural institutions
- Emphasis on providing resources to allow artists and organizations to create more securely
- Efforts to improve the timeliness of grant disbursement
Carlina Rivera
2:27:54
Thank you for that.
2:27:55
I think it's a great initiative.
2:27:56
It's one that I try every year to be expanded because whether it's the organizations on Fourth Arts Block, the Clemente, Loisaida, there's so many organizations in my own district doing great work around this issue that are deserving.
2:28:12
With very little changes to the fiscal twenty twenty six preliminary plan, do you feel that DCLA has adequate resources to meet the needs of all the funded cultural organizations both large and small.
Laurie Cumbo
2:28:28
I'm extremely proud of this administration.
2:28:31
Mayor Adams wanted to make sure that we brought art and culture to every corner of New York City.
2:28:37
He wanted to eliminate the concept of outer boroughs and make this one New York City.
2:28:43
And I'm very proud that we have passed the three largest cultural budgets in New York City's history, solidifying our agency as the largest cultural funder in the nation.
2:28:56
And this is a very profound investment in art and culture.
2:29:00
And what I'm particularly proud about is that we were able to collaboratively work with the mayor to increase funding for our local arts councils by 15%.
2:29:10
This is the largest increase to our five arts councils in the the arts council's history, and we are very proud that we're gonna be able to support more artists to give them an opportunity to create.
2:29:23
We understand and recognize that the previous years did not allow so many arts arts organizations and artists to implement the level and scale of projects that they wanted particularly with the rising cost of inflation.
2:29:37
So this investment is going to give them a larger voice.
2:29:40
It's going to allow them to create in a more secure way, and we're happy to be able to provide those resources at this time.
2:29:48
I feel very confident in our agency's ability to administer our awards and grants.
2:29:55
We are very proud who is here today.
2:29:58
We have Audrey St.
2:29:59
Clair, who we recently hired, who is now going to be the assistant commissioner for the programs unit administering the CDF grants.
2:30:07
We are very proud of that hire.
2:30:10
We also recently hired Angela Blocker, who is administering guidance and support for our cultural institutions group.
2:30:18
So we are on a roll essentially in terms of filling positions, getting grants in, making sure that we get them out on time, and we're moving and and proactively making sure that we get on the timetable that our arts organizations need in order to be able to bring resources to their communities.