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QUESTION

How did the Department of Cultural Affairs evaluate and improve the inclusivity of the Culture Development Fund (CDF) process?

3:12:04

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The commissioner explains the efforts to make the CDF process more equitable and inclusive.

The department engaged the city council, administration, arts/cultural groups, and the public for feedback
Testimony from organizations was incorporated to address inclusivity challenges
Numerous site visits were conducted to cultural institutions across the city
A 'culture at risk' initiative was launched to support vulnerable organizations, especially during the pandemic
The goal is a more transparent, supportive funding system for the cultural sector

Carlina Rivera

3:12:04

I I inclusivity, diversity, equity inclusion always is always important.

3:12:09

I think the so you performed an an evaluation of the CDF process to see what changes should be made

Laurie Cumbo

3:12:17

Correct.

Carlina Rivera

3:12:17

To be more inclusive.

Beth Allen

3:12:18

Mhmm.

Carlina Rivera

3:12:19

How did you go about that process?

3:12:21

Who did you include?

Laurie Cumbo

3:12:23

I included the city council.

3:12:26

Starting with you.

3:12:28

Discussions with the administration in terms of their views as well.

3:12:33

We brought many of this to the culture at 3 calls that happen on a regular basis.

3:12:37

Our agency participates.

3:12:39

We hear from feedback.

3:12:40

The testimony.

3:12:42

And the incredible arts and cultural organizations that come here to testify, which we listen to, We have heard the testimonies.

3:12:51

We've incorporated the testimony.

3:12:53

So often people think that the written testimony or coming here just goes into like the ethers of some sort, but we took that information and brought it back to the agency to see how can we address these really challenging issues that are happening.

3:13:07

We did numerous site visits.

3:13:10

So my day, every day, is going to numerous cultural institutions from the beginning of the day till the end of the night.

3:13:17

I just saw Gail Brewer last night.

3:13:19

We were both at the Met Opera, which was an incredible presentation.

3:13:23

I went to see mom the morning before the Met Opera.

3:13:27

To see an incredible program of a partnership with Rikers and this partnership with Rikers where they allow those that are being held at Rikers to have a reconnection with their family at the Children's Museum of Manhattan and to have those valuable experiences and to have those meetings and discussions and this happens on an everyday basis.

3:13:48

I can't even tell you what my weekends look like in terms of being able to meet with so many different organizations to find out how this process is impacting them.

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What steps is the Department of Cultural Affairs taking to support cultural organizations beyond the traditional funding process?

How did the Department of Cultural Affairs evaluate and improve the inclusivity of the Culture Development Fund (CDF) process?

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