News for 2021

2021

NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Announces $51.4 Million in Grants to More Than 1,000 Cultural Organizations Citywide

The largest Cultural Development Fund allocation in the agency’s history includes funding for COVID-19 recovery, arts education, and increases for organizations in underserved communities.
December 9, 2021
Learn more about this year’s increased funding.

Mayor de Blasio Announces $50 Million Capital Investment in Brooklyn Museum

The funding will support a transformative plan that encompasses gallery renovations and infrastructure projects aimed at updating the Brooklyn Museum’s 120-year old, City-owned landmark building.
November 22, 2021
Learn more about the City support for Brooklyn Museum.

For the First Time Since March 2020, Materials for the Arts Officially Reopens its Doors to Members

Full access to Cultural Affairs’ Materials for the Arts program, which provides free essential supplies to fuel creative and educational programming across the five boroughs, has been restored.
November 16, 2021
Learn more about MFTA’s reopening.

New York City Artist Corps Culminates with Record-High 300 Public Events, Performances, and Programs the Last Week of October

With 300+ events this week alone and more than 700 this month, City Artist Corps Grants have created 3,000 artist-led, public engagements across the city since July.
October 25, 2021
See all 300+ City Artist Corps Events.

Mayor de Blasio Announces Culmination of City Artist Corps With Over 700 Public Showcases and Events This Arts and Humanities Month

City Artist Corps Showcases are a citywide celebration driven by this historic investment in local artists as a way of strengthening communities and fostering a fair, equitable, and vibrant recovery for all.
October 14, 2021
Learn more about the City Artist Corps Showcase.

During National Arts and Humanities Month, New York City Artist Corps Members Offer 250+ Events, Performances, and Programs through October 24

With the culmination of the historic New York City Artist Corps program this month local artists will offer over 250 public workshops, exhibitions, performances, murals, and other free cultural engagements across the boroughs in the weeks ahead.
October 13, 2021
Learn more about upcoming City Artist Corps engagements.

NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Announces 2021-22 NYC Public Artists in Residence

New Three artists - Melanie Crean, sTo Len, and Kameron Neal - will embed within the NYC Departments of Design and Construction, Sanitation, and Records for the next year to address urgent civic challenges through their creative practices.
October 6, 2021
Learn more about the 2021-22 Public Artists in Residence.

New York City Artist Corps Members Offer 140+ Citywide Events, Performances, and Programs through October 10

New York City Artist Corps members have programmed over 700 free and public events July 2021. The celebration of art and culture through the program will continue the next two weeks as artists will host more than 140 events through October 10.
September 28, 2021
Learn more about upcoming City Artist Corps events.

New York City Awards $26.4 Million to Complete Queens Museum Expansion

The expansion will create a dedicated children’s museum space, expand the museum’s classrooms, provide secure artwork storage, and improve the facility’s energy efficiency.
September 22, 2021
Learn more about City support for the Queens Museum expansion.

New York City Artist Corps Members Are Offering 100+ Free Public Engagements Across the City Through the End of September

Through City Artist Corps, NYC-based artists will offer more than 100 free public art, dance, music, and literary events this month.
September 10, 2021
Learn more about upcoming City Artist Corps events.

As City Artist Corps Awards 3,000th Grant, 50+ Free Public Engagements Dot NYC Landscape in Coming Weeks

Over 3,000 artists have joined City Artist Corps through receiving City Artist Corps Grants to create public events across NYC, working with students in the NYC Department of Education’s Summer Rising program, performing at The People’s Festival, working with nonprofit ArtBridge and NYCHA, and more.
August 27, 2021
Learn more about City Artist Corps programming across NYC.

City Announces Over $11 Million in Capital Support for Cultural Organizations on the Snug Harbor Campus in Staten Island

The new funding will support critical upgrades and expansion projects for three organizations, including the Staten Island Museum, Staten Island Children’s Museum, and the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden.
August 26, 2021
Learn more about the capital projects at Snug Harbor.

Materials for the Arts Hosts “Back to School” Curbside Pickup for NYC DOE Art Teachers

MFTA welcomes visual art teachers to start the school year with free supplies during NYC’s recovery from the pandemic.
August 23, 2021
Learn more about MFTA’s Back to School initiative.

The NYC Civic Engagement Commission, Department of Cultural Affairs, the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and Public Artist in Residence Yazmany Arboleda Roll Out “The People’s Festival”

The NYC Civic Engagement Commission, with its first Public Artist in Residence Yazmany Arboleda, will launch The People’s Festival, a five borough tour of art, performances, resources, and community engagement from August 20 through September 5.
August 18, 2021
Learn more about The People’s Festival.

Artworks by Two NYC Public Artists In Residence (PAIR) Acquired by Major Global Cultural Institutions

The artworks by 2020-2021 PAIR Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya and 2019-2020 PAIR Julia Weist have been acquired by The Museum of Modern Art, Victoria and Albert Museum, The Jewish Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Queens Museum, and Library of Congress.
August 12, 2021
Learn more about the PAIR Acquisition.

City Announces $10.2 Million to Build A New Headquarters for Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater in the Bronx

The City funding will support construction of a new, 3,500 square-foot cultural and administrative space to serve as the institution’s headquarters on Walton Avenue in the South Bronx.
July 30, 2021
Learn more about the Pregones/PRTT project.

City Completes Infrastructure and Utility Upgrades In Staten Island’s Historic Richmond Town

The $10.6 million project made much needed upgrades in the historic district’s Central Village area.
July 21, 2021
Learn more about the Historic Richmond Town capital project.

Materials for the Arts Sets Out for First-Ever Citywide Tour

NYC Department of Cultural Affairs' Materials for the Arts program is launching a tour distributing free supplies to cultural organizations and public schools across the five boroughs during the month of July.
July 7, 2021
Learn more about the MFTA Citywide Tour.

Newtown Creek Nature Walk in Greenpoint is Doubled in Length to Provide Uninterrupted Public Access to Waterfront

Commissioned through Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art program, the immersive, contemplative Nature Walk was designed by landscape sculptor George Trakas.
June 21, 2021
Learn more about the expanded Nature Walk.

The NYC Civic Engagement Commission, Department Of Cultural Affairs, and Public Artist in Residence Yazmany Arboleda Roll Out “The People’s Bus”

NYC’s Civic Engagement Commission - with its first Public Artist in Residence Yazmany Arboleda - is taking democracy to the streets by transforming a retired City bus into a community center on wheels to engage people in NYC’s civic life through beauty and joy.
June 11, 2021
Learn more about The People’s Bus.

NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Announces Details for City Artist Corps

Through a number of partners, City Artist Corps will provide support for thousands of local artists to engage New Yorkers in cultural experiences throughout the summer and fall.
June 7, 2021
Learn more about the City Artist Corps.

Recovery for All of Us: Mayor de Blasio Announces City Artist Corps

The City Artist Corps is a $25 million program that will support local artists and bring extraordinary cultural experiences to residents in all five boroughs this summer.
May 6, 2021
Learn more about the City Artist Corps.

Interactive Art Installation "We May Know Our Own Strength" Illuminates Stories of Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

On display April 1 through May 15, the installation from Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, NYC Public Artist in Residence with the Commission on Human Rights, integrates visual art and technology to create a large-scale sculptural representation of the stories of survivors.
April 1, 2021
Learn more about the installation.

Recovery for All of Us: Mayor de Blasio Releases Guidelines for "Open Culture" Program

Open Culture will provide stages for artists and cultural groups in all five boroughs, putting artists back to work and providing New Yorkers the opportunity to enjoy the arts safely in their neighborhoods.
February 8, 2021
Learn more about Open Culture.