Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Relations meeting
February 9, 2026, 1:00 PM
The Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Relations held an oversight hearing on affordability in New York City's arts and cultural sector, and heard resolutions declaring commemorative days including Freedom Day on July 2 (Res 0015-2026) and A Tribe Called Quest Day on March 22 (Res 0290-2026). The committee also heard Res 0005-2026 commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
What was discussed
- Chair opens the hearing on affordability in the arts and cultural sector Chairperson Nantasha M. Williams gaveled in her first hearing as Cultural Affairs Chair, framing the oversight topic on affordability in New York City's arts and cultural sector and referencing Local Law 46 of 2015, which required the city's cultural plan. Minority Leader David M. Carr congratulated
- Council member introduces the commemorative-day resolutions Council Member Joann Ariola introduced Freedom Day (Res 0015-2026), which would declare July 2 in recognition of the 1776 vote for independence. The committee's agenda also included resolutions commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States (Res 0005-2026), declaring March 22 as A Tribe
- Center for an Urban Future presents the Creative New York 2025 report Eli Dvorkin of the Center for an Urban Future testified on its Creative New York 2025 report, describing an affordability crisis in the sector — an employment decline of about 6.1% spanning every creative industry and roughly 50 arts venues closed — and recommending artist housing, portable
- DCLA testifies on the Creative New York recommendations DCLA Assistant Commissioner Audrey St. Clair and Lance Polivy testified on the department's response to the Creative New York 2025 recommendations. Polivy acknowledged the cultural-plan action-plan website had lapsed, welcomed data-driven reports, and said the department was open to discussing a
- Manhattan Borough President announces a cultural-funding 'multiplier' Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal testified, announcing a new 'Manhattan multiplier' for cultural funding, which the Chair welcomed as breaking news and urged other borough presidents to match.
- Cultural anchors on affordable space, timely payments, and a citywide festival Leaders of major and borough cultural institutions — including Jazz at Lincoln Center (Leah C. Johnson), Carnegie Hall (David Freudenthal), BAM/DanceAfrica (Clemente Luna), New York City Center (Mike Rosenberg), the Staten Island Children's Museum (Dina Rosenthal), Flushing Town Hall (Natalie
- Arts-education, workforce, and rehearsal-space advocates Kimberly Olsen (NYC Arts in Education Roundtable) testified on certified arts teachers and portable benefits, Randi Berry (IndieSpace) on affordable rehearsal and basement performance space and short-term leases, and Hassiem Muhammad (New 42) on artists cycling in and out of health insurance
- Borough arts councils and small and midsize organizations Leaders of borough arts councils and smaller organizations — Mohammed Yousuf (Lower Manhattan Cultural Council), Jamaine Smith (Staten Island Arts), Jesus Lopez-Jenson, Lucy Sexton, Fran Garber-Cohen (Regina Opera), DJ McDonald (Dance Parade), Risa Shoup, Penn Genthner (Classical Theatre of Harlem)
- Artists and union members on health care, benefits, and lived experience Individual artists and union members — Leah Okin and Noel Jacoby (Local 798), Daniel Amow (Entertainment Community Fund / Actors Fund Housing), Julian Gersten, Ariel Savransky, Maren Berthelsen (Symphony Space), Andrew Sotomayor and Maria Scali (Local 798 makeup artists), and Esther Robinson —
- Additional remote and in-person testimony Additional witnesses — including Eva Davis, Barbara Manu, Katrina Jeffries, Potrirankamanis Queano Nur on AAPI artists, Libertad Guerra, Nicole Touzien, and Christopher Leon Johnson — testified on affordability, discrimination, and support for the arts, closing out the public portion of the hearing.
Agenda
5 items
- Res 0015-2026 Resolution declaring July 2 annually in the City of New York as Freedom Day to commemorate the anniversary of the vote of the Second Continental Congress to declare independence from Great Britain in 1776 Hearing Held by Committee
- Res 0005-2026 Resolution commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America Hearing Held by Committee
- Res 0290-2026 Resolution declaring March 22 annually as A Tribe Called Quest Day in the City of New York and honoring their innovative mix of hip hop and jazz that impacted generations of musicians and audiences Hearing on P-C Item by Comm
- Res 0182-2026 Resolution declaring April 6 annually as Tartan Day in the City of New York Hearing on P-C Item by Comm
- T2026-0832 Oversight - Affordability in New York City’s Arts and Cultural Sector. Hearing Held by Committee