A proposed budget reduction this would more than halve the funding for the The New York State Council for the Arts (NYSCA) would be detrimental to the state’s creative economy, especially for Black, Indigenous, Latina, Asian, and all communities of color. The arts are a vital part of our culture and identity and play an important role in our local and national economic viability. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the arts and culture sector contributed $877 billion to the US economy in 2017, more than the construction, transportation or warehousing industries. In New York, the arts generate $120 billion in economic activity and support nearly 466,000 jobs, according to the Comptroller’s Report on the Creative Economy.
Arts entities led by Black, Indigenous, Latina, Asian, and all people of color are essential to this economic and cultural contribution. They provide unique perspectives and experiences that enrich our communities and contribute to the diverse culture for which New York is known. Arts entities of color across New York State, such as Seneca Iroquois National Museum in Salamanca and the Northern Underground Railroad Historical Association at Ausable Chasm, preserve the rich history of New York’s Indigenous and African American communities. Organizations like the Borinquen Dance Theater in Rochester and Yerbabrouja Theater at Bay Shore, keep alive the vibrant traditions of our Latin community while sharing them with visitors from around the world. However, these entities and countless others have traditionally been underfunded and underrepresented in city and state funding distributions. This proposed budget cut to NYSCA funding would exacerbate this problem and further marginalize these organizations.
One of the challenges faced by arts entities of color is the lack of data on their specific needs and contributions. During testimony on the fiscal year 2024 budget proposal, NYSCA officials said they did not have data on New York City arts entities specific to race and ethnicity. This lack of data is a significant issue because it makes it difficult to understand their funding practices, how funding disparities affect arts entities of color, and the ability to quantify the impact of budget cuts on these organizations.
Hue’s Museum HueArts New York the initiative helps to fill the void. Our research identified over 500 arts entities of color in New York State. HueArts New York consists of an interactive map of New York State that visually locates each of these features with a directory, and corresponding Brown Book Report which highlights key findings and recommendations for enacting critical changes in state arts policies. By doing this work, we more effectively advocate for increased awareness, funding and support.
We found that arts entities of color receive significantly less distributed funding for arts and culture. A large majority of their operating budget is under $1 million. A key finding of the HueArts NYS report is that nearly two-thirds of the more than 550 arts entities of color we identified operate with budgets under $100,000. More than 400 are in New York and about 150 are located in other areas of the state such as Long Island, Hudson Valley and Buffalo. This is especially important because 67% of NYSCA funding goes to organizations with budgets under $1 million. By comparison, only 17% of all New York State entities reporting to Data Arts (the main entity collecting data on nonprofit arts and culture organizations nationwide) report lower budgets. at $100,000. This means that the vast majority of these organizations operating on shoestring budgets are our arts entities of color. These organizations are often small and local, but they provide essential services and cultural contributions to their communities.
HueArts has previously released two reports that outline the specific needs and contributions of arts entities of color in New York State. These reports provide critical information that policy makers can use to make informed decisions about how to direct our state’s resources to the organizations and entities that need them most. Our data clearly shows that these artistic entities of color provide not only cultural services, but also essential human services to their communities, and contribute significantly to New York State’s creative economy in ways that pass unnoticed by decision makers.
Senator José M. Serrano and Assemblyman Daniel J. O’Donnell recently asked the New York State Legislature to include $140 million for NYSCA and $50 million for funding NYSCA fixed assets. Leaders noted how essential this funding is for small arts organizations in the state. HueArts strongly supports this request and advocates for a specific budget of $100 million in discretionary funding over five years for arts entities of color in New York. We believe that a dedicated budget for arts entities of color would create greater racial equity in our arts sector by enabling the more than 500 BIPOC-led arts organizations to meet their immediate needs and develop long-term strategies that will enhance their sustainability in the future. By advocating for targeted funding, HueArts is ensuring that these organizations receive the support they need to continue contributing to the cultural richness of their communities and the creative economy of our state.
The impact of the proposed fiscal year 2024 budget cuts on the arts would be devastating. Arts entities of color already face significant challenges due to systemic underfunding and lack of representation, while continuing to do so much for their communities with very limited resources. The proposed budget cut would make their survival even more difficult. This would undermine the state’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the arts sector.
