What We Do

Develop and recommend public policy on arts and cultural issues at city and state levels through dialog and discussion within the cultural sector.

Monitor government activity that may impact artists and arts organizations
Analyze the City’s Budget at all stages and keep the cultural field informed about plans for the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) funding.
Analyze the State Budget recommendations from the Governor for the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and advise cultural field of its implications.
Monitor city and state budget negotiations and regularly provide information to cultural groups.
Monitor state, federal and local legislative activity that could have an impact on artists and arts organizations.

Advocate on behalf of the city's not-for-profit arts groups for expanded public funding and the protection of First Amendment rights.
Organize Arts Day in Albany for New York City arts groups. This united effort to advocate for increased funding to NYSCA includes scheduling appointments, briefing attendees, and preparing materials for meetings with 90-100 state legislators.
Sponsor annual City Budget Breakfast,which provides arts advocates with an opportunity to meet City Council Members and discuss the budget proposals.
Offer testimony at City Hall on the budget for DCA, and assist others with appropriate testimony.
Conduct advocacy training for organizational and individual members.

Educate the general public to insure a better understanding of the need and uses of public funds in the not-for-profit cultural sector
Organize educational forums on censorship and other relevant issues.
Produce Artist for a Day, during which members of the business, media, and government sectors, spend a day at an arts organization.

Collect data demonstrating the economic value of the arts and the need for public funding of the arts.
Prepare biannual survey of city arts groups.

Work with non-arts constituencies to advance the concerns of artists and arts groups in areas of mutual concern.

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