Economic development for New York State arts

During Thursday’s joint budget hearing on economic development the first panel included officials from New York State Department of Economic Development, NYS Office of General Services and the New York State Council on the Arts.

Testimonies and questions covered topics like workforce development, Micron semiconductors and funding in NYS’ arts sector. After New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Mara Manus’ testimony, Assembly members Carrie Woerner and Daniel O’Donnell  – who serve assembly districts 113 and 69 – and Senator Jeremy Cooney (D- District 56)  are some the lawmakers who inquired about NYSCA’s cut funding, tax credits and grant allocation. 

NYSCA functions as a preservation and support system for New York State's arts and culture sector. The organization funds projects and artists of varying sizes and notoriety while prioritizing arts education and cultural experiences for underserved communities, according to their mission.

This fiscal year, Governor Hochul’s executive budget recommends almost $88 million in total funds allocated to NYSCA, over a $4 million decrease from the enacted budget during 2022’s fiscal year. 

Lawmakers maintain that funding recommended this year will further gaps unfilled during the previous fiscal year.

“With much more money [FY2022] they still had about 20% of the demand, the need unfilled. Now the governor has proposed to cut the budget by 56%,” Assm. Woerner said. 

“We spend a lot of money to bring film productions to New York State in the form of tax credits and yet the organization, NYSCA, that supports small arts organizations, that provides the bulk of the employment in the arts world, that creates the quality of life in our communities – that program we’re going to cut by 56%,” the assemblywoman questioned.

Chair Committee on Tourism, Parks & Sports Development Assm. O’Donnell, circulated two letters with the Chair Committee on Tourism, Parks & Recreation Sen. Jose Serrano in February. One requests $140 million for NYSCA grantmaking and the other requests $50 million for capital funding. If funding is not restored the assemblyman will not be voting for the budget.

“Theater is created in not-for-profit spaces, it’s not created in for-profit spaces.”

Popular plays cited during the hearing by Executive Director Mara Manus include Hadestown, Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton.

“The idea that you would give money – tax credits – to the for-profit sector,” Assm. O’Donnell said, “while withholding money from the non-for profit sector is ass backwards.”

Both Assm. O’Donnell and Assm. Woerner have been in close proximity to the impact the arts have on a community's quality of life. Assm. O’Donnell announced familial connections with for-profit Broadway producers and Assm.Woerner has witnessed a community transform thanks to performing arts opportunities in smaller towns. 

“To NYSCA’s credit they really try to make sure that money goes where it will have the biggest impact. You may have heard the director talk about how, on a percentage basis, the smaller organizations received a larger percentage of what they ask for than the larger organizations,” Assm. Woerner said. 

“I think they attempt to balance it but the bigger organizations do tend to get the lion’s share of money,” she continued. 

Additionally, though NYSCA has committed to servicing underrepresented communities, Sen. Cooney said local artists are operating on limited funds.

"There’s a disconnect between the goals and strategies of our state arts agency, NYSCA, and the grant distribution made on the regional level,” he said. “This is especially the case for underrepresented artists and underserved communities. As legislative representatives, we often hear from local arts and cultural organizations, many of whom operate on limited budgets and/or represent artists of color, who face continued barriers to accessing state resources."