On Wednesday, October 14th, 2015, we convened a high-profile conference about the future of the arts in New York City. The event, which was co-sponsored by the Center for an Urban Future and the City of New York, brought together over 200 leaders from arts organizations, philanthropy, the business community and government. The event began with a keynote address from Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen and featured speakers such as NYC Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, Former NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Acting Commissioner Edwin Torres, Brooklyn Museum Director Anne Pasternak, Studio Museum Director Thelma Golden and choreographer and 2015 MacArthur “Genius” Award recipient Michelle Dorrance. 

The symposium delved into the biggest challenges facing New York’s artists, arts organizations and creative workers—from the affordability challenges experienced by so many artists and the struggles of mid-sized arts organizations to the diversity gap in the arts. Building upon the Center’s 2015 Creative New York report, the discussion focused on generating new ideas for how to strengthen the arts across the five boroughs and maintain New York City’s status as the nation’s pre-eminent creative capital.  By the end of the conference, attendees shared over 70 ideas for what the city and philanthropy can do to bolster the arts in NYC.

Click here (PDF) for the recap of the event.