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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Sarah Cecilia Bukowski, Dancer at Metropolitan Opera
5:47:27
ยท
127 sec
Sarah Cecilia Bukowski, a dancer with the Metropolitan Opera and governor of the American Guild of Musical Artists, testified in support of increased funding for the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs. She emphasized the importance of stable funding for arts workers and called for a $75 million baseline increase for DCLA.
- Bukowski stressed that artists are workers and the industry needs support, highlighting the role of CDF and CIG programs in supporting union arts workers.
- She pointed out the ongoing challenges faced by arts workers, including stagnant wages and rising living costs, even five years after the pandemic.
- Bukowski advocated for long-term investments to support strong union jobs and growth in the arts sector, enabling artists to build sustainable careers.
Sarah Cecilia Bukowski
5:47:27
Thank you, Chair Rivera.
5:47:29
I'm Sarah Cecilia Bukowski and I'm here today as a union arts worker.
5:47:33
I'm a dancer with the Metropolitan Opera and a governor of the American Guild of Musical Artists.
5:47:40
And I'd like to thank you, the committee, the council for your ongoing support for the city's arts and culture sector and to join my colleagues today in calling for your continued investment in the form of $75,000,000 baseline for DCLA as we work toward 1% for culture.
5:47:58
And my message to you today stems from my core belief that artists are workers and our industry really needs your support.
5:48:06
The CDF and CIG programs provide support to 10 AGMA signatories and thus to thousands of union arts workers in this city.
5:48:17
And of course you've heard all of the case making from my colleagues here today about how an investment in the arts is an investment in our economy, our workforce, our communities, and our cultural identities.
5:48:29
I'm here to tell you that this funding is crucial to my livelihood and to the livelihoods of thousands of union and non union arts workers.
5:48:38
And of course we all know how the pandemic exposed just how vulnerable arts workers are particularly those who lack labor protections.
5:48:46
And five years on many of us are still recovering.
5:48:49
And our wages, even my union wages at one of the largest arts institutions in this city continue to be stagnant in the face of inflation, rising costs of living, and the climate of mounting uncertainty.
5:49:02
So all of this tells me that a truly thriving arts sector is going to depend on stable baseline funding and long term investments to support strong union jobs and union growth that can set standards so that all arts workers can build careers in the arts and can build lives in the arts beyond just gigs.
5:49:21
That's really important to me as a worker as well.
5:49:24
So I stand here today with thousands of other arts workers to call on you and to let you know that we're counting on you to support arts and culture by fully funding DCLA.
5:49:34
Thank you.