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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Nicole Gardner, Director of Advancement at Building for the Arts on Off Broadway, Baseline, and Capital Funding
6:06:09
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139 sec
Nicole Gardner from Building for the Arts testified about the challenges facing Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway theaters, emphasizing the need for increased baseline funding and capital support. She highlighted the importance of Theater Row in supporting small theater companies and independent artists, and requested $75 million be added to the DCLA baseline budget.
- Theater Row supports 3,000 artists and 300 theater companies annually with subsidized spaces
- Building for the Arts is seeking capital support to replace outdated lighting systems at Theater Row
- The proposed lighting upgrade would save each theater group $1,300 or more per week in production costs
Nicole Gardner
6:06:09
Hello, Chair Rivera.
6:06:11
I'm Nicole Gardner, Director of Advancement at Building for the Arts, and I'm here to talk about Off Broadway, the Baseline, and capital funding.
6:06:22
We were founded as the forty second Street Development Corporation in 1976, and we helped revitalize Hell's Kitchen by founding Theatre Row.
6:06:31
And Theatre Row is still going strong, supporting 3,000 artists and 300 theater companies every year with subsidized spaces to create and perform.
6:06:42
Off and Off Off Broadway theater in NYC is still in crisis and we see it in the large number of companies closing, cutting back production or losing their spaces.
6:06:54
So increasing the baseline is crucial.
6:06:57
At Theater Row, we're struggling too, but we're still striving to put production back in reach for New York City's small theater companies and independent artists.
6:07:07
However, our outdated lighting systems are breaking down and artists in our spaces are starting to spend their limited production funds to bring in outside lighting to achieve their visions.
6:07:18
So we need capital support to replace our obsolete systems with modern LED lighting.
6:07:23
That way artists won't have to spend their limited budgets on renting equipment from a third party.
6:07:29
Using our equipment will save each group $1,300 or more per week.
6:07:34
And that's how this project will have a radiant effect, putting over $2,000,000 back into the production budgets of small New York City theater companies and independent artists over the first ten years of the system's use.
6:07:46
And the project will also make Theater Row more environmentally sustainable.
6:07:51
The vibrant voices and the generative artists that come out of small nonprofit and indie theater are the lifeblood of New York City's theater ecosystem.
6:08:00
But while Broadway has started to recover post COVID, the off and off off community is truly struggling.
6:08:08
We urge you to help us maintain New York City's status as a destination for culture by adding 75,000,000 to the baseline for DCLA.
6:08:15
And additionally, we ask that the Manhattan delegation support our funding, support our capital request for Theater Road to keep Off and Off Off Broadway alive and creating for New York City.
6:08:26
Thank you for your consideration and support.