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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kate Madigan, Government Affairs Coordinator of The Public Theater
4:53:16
·
152 sec
Kate Madigan from The Public Theater advocated for increased funding to stabilize the arts and culture sector in NYC. She expressed gratitude for the $45 million baseline increase for the Department of Cultural Affairs but emphasized that more support is needed due to rising costs, federal funding cuts, and decreased private donations.
- The Public Theater invests nearly $10 million annually in free programming, including Shakespeare in the Park, which serves over 100,000 people each summer.
- Without increased permanent investment from NYC government, the cultural sector risks becoming less equitable, diverse, and accessible.
- Madigan warned that without action, only those who can afford expensive tickets will be able to attend cultural offerings in the future.
Kate Madigan
4:53:16
Good afternoon Chair Rivera and Chair Brannan and committee members and staff.
4:53:21
My name is Kate Madigan, government affairs coordinator for the public theater.
4:53:25
I am here to advocate for the public theater's survival and for the council to stabilize the entire arts and culture sector.
4:53:31
Thank you for this opportunity to speak.
4:53:34
Art institutions are the core of what makes The Big Apple so appealing.
Adeeba Rana
4:53:41
Thank you for that.
4:53:42
The
Kate Madigan
4:53:44
public theater is grateful for the city council's commitment to the first substantial baseline increase for our cultural groups in over a decade.
4:53:52
A permanent $45,000,000 increase for the Department of Cultural Affairs is nothing short of historic.
4:53:58
However, more is needed to stabilize NYC's cultural organizations.
4:54:02
The CAG's and CDF's alike of are facing rising costs related to inflation, funding cuts from the federal government, and divestment from private donors and foundations.
4:54:14
In 2023, the public theater implemented painful austerity measures to protect the future of the organization, but as the goal lines continue to shift and we experience the effects of the headwinds I just outlined, sustainability remains painfully out of reach.
4:54:31
Sadly, many of our PO organizations are facing a similar reality.
4:54:36
In addition to our shared cultural funding request, the public theater has submitted various discretionary and capital asks to the council this budget cycle to support our free programming in city owned at city owned infrastructures.
4:54:49
Each free Shakespeare in the Par production at the Delacorte Theatre cost the public over $3,500,000 to stage.
4:54:56
With a typical summer season featuring two main stage shows, a community pageant, and a mobile unit tour to all five boroughs, we invest nearly $10,000,000 annually to provide free performances to the people of New York City.
4:55:09
Our iconic free Shakespeare in the Park program serves more than a hundred thousand New Yorkers and visitors each summer entirely free of charge.
4:55:18
And I will finish, without fiscal action in permanent NYC government investment, the NYC nonprofit component will be a less equitable, diverse, and accessible field should we let this version of the future come to pass.
4:55:33
Ultimately, those who can only afford to pay hundreds of dollars for tickets and productions will be able to attend these cultural offerings.
4:55:42
I'll give you one Guesla who would fill that gap.
4:55:45
Thank you for your time and dedication to the people of New York City.