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PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Testimony by David Freudenthal, Director of Government Relations at Carnegie Hall

4:32:42

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138 sec

David Freudenthal from Carnegie Hall reinforces the importance of city investment in culture, highlighting its positive impact on the economy, education, workforce development, and human services. He emphasizes the need for $75 million in additional funding to support cultural organizations during a time of financial uncertainty.

Carnegie Hall is experiencing strong ticket sales and visitor numbers, demonstrating the draw of cultural institutions for both New Yorkers and tourists.
Despite thriving in some areas, financial uncertainty threatens the ability of cultural organizations to provide essential services to New Yorkers beyond their primary offerings.
Freudenthal stresses the critical role of cultural institutions in making New York City an attractive destination for visitors.

David Freudenthal

4:32:42

Chair Rivera staff, I'm David Freudenthal from Carnegie Hall.

4:32:47

I thank you for the chance to reinforce the pretty remarkable testimony we just heard from my colleagues on this panel.

4:32:54

That was some good case making for why the the city's investment in culture pays dividends for us all, for the economy, for education, for workforce development, for for our deep investment in the human services, the ways that culture is a real partner to our city in getting this work done.

4:33:13

The council has council gets this.

4:33:15

The council understands the need.

4:33:17

And for we're super grateful that you elevate why this work matters in the budget fight ahead.

4:33:24

And we're really glad to be able to provide those case studies, those examples of the way that organizations like ours sorry, Carnegie Mellon a member of the CIG.

4:33:37

We're part of that public private partnership.

4:33:39

Reinforced how important that $75,000,000 is at a time of real, real risk and uncertainty to our sector.

4:33:51

You know, we're we're suffering it's it's financial.

4:33:55

It's it's the chaos that's created by all of this.

4:33:59

And it make it it makes it harder for us to deliver on these essential services.

4:34:04

The reality is, you know, in many ways, we're thriving.

4:34:07

Like, ticket sales at Carnegie Hall are fantastic.

4:34:10

You know, people are coming to the hall.

4:34:12

People are you know, New Yorkers are coming.

4:34:14

Visitors are coming.

4:34:15

You know, places like Carnegie Hall at the Brooklyn Museum, our our cultural colleagues, Brooklyn Brooklyn Academy of Music, excuse me, are, you know, are the reason that people, you know, wanna visit.

4:34:27

And, you know, and we're we're essential.

4:34:29

What's at risk for for places like ours in this time of enormous financial uncertainty and and and and real budget limitations is our ability to provide those services to New Yorkers that we are that is also part beyond our concerts, our our work with all those human services agencies.

4:34:52

And those are the things that, you know, for all of us are harder to do in this times of fiscal uncertainty.

4:34:58

Thank you for your consideration.

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Council member asks about the most impactful step to support the cultural sector