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Q&A
Obligations of CIG members to maintain free programming
0:35:06
·
3 min
Commissioner Cumbo explains the obligations of Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) members regarding free programming and the various strategies institutions are employing to balance accessibility with financial constraints.
- CIG members have an obligation, though not a strict rule, to maintain certain levels of free programming
- Many museums were founded with and became CIGs under the principle of providing free or pay-as-you-wish access
- Institutions are exploring various strategies to maintain accessibility while addressing financial challenges
- Some museums are considering limiting pay-as-you-wish programs to specific geographic areas (e.g., tri-state area, New York State, or New York City)
- The conversation highlights the need for a holistic approach involving various stakeholders to support the cultural sector
Laurie Cumbo
0:35:06
There is an obligation.
0:35:08
It isn't a rule, but that's an obligation, And many of the museums were founded with that and became SIGs under that, such as the Metropolitan Museum.
0:35:18
They are a pay as you wish institution as well as institutions like the American Museum of Natural History.
0:35:25
These are pay as you wish programs.
0:35:27
But even in their pay as you wish programs, they are negotiating and thinking of other ways in order to continue their pay as you wish program, but maybe limiting some of those programs from it being nationally pay as you wish to the tri state areas is what we consider our catchment area for pay as you wish.
0:35:50
To some are thinking about, no, it's only New York State is pay as you wish.
0:35:54
Some are like, it's only New York City as you pay as you wish.
0:35:58
So everyone's trying to figure out strategies in order to cut costs, raise revenue, and find new solutions, particularly as foundations, corporations, etcetera, are changing their funding guidelines.
0:36:13
Like in my ideal world, this hearing would also have board members, foundations, corporations, individuals to get everyone in the room to really talk about how are we going to support a cultural sector during one of the toughest challenges in terms of our economy, in terms of the pandemic, in terms of recovery.
0:36:34
This is really like a holistic conversation that really needs to be had.
0:36:38
And I wanna be clear that the city government is not going to be able to financially provide for the over a thousand organizations that we provide support for.
0:36:52
We're not gonna be able to make up those deficits from the changes on the federal government to the changes in foundations and corporations.
0:37:00
And I understand clearly, we do have to continue to find other solutions, but city government is not gonna be able to bear the brunt of maintaining and holding up an entire sector that has traditionally had partners in how they function and operate.
0:37:16
One of the major ways that the Brooklyn Museum and many other institutions raise money is through fundraising events.
0:37:26
Those sorts of programming opportunities provide funding and resources for the Brooklyn Museum on many levels.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
0:37:34
I agree with you in that it has to be a holistic conversation.
0:37:39
Obviously, we as an agency and council will have the opportunity to bite at that apple at the budget hearings that are starting next month.
0:37:46
Mhmm.
0:37:46
And we'll be honing in on some of these conversations.
0:37:50
And, you know, not only through my committee and through a public hearing that's happening today, but also through a cultural committee.
0:37:56
Those conversations I know are welcome on our side.
0:38:00
But my question was more around you said that it was a rule, but not an obligation.
0:38:04
So if they don't maintain the same levels of free programming, their funding is not impacted.