Mayor Adams Announces Upcoming Cultural Events as Part of "Founded by NYC" Campaign to Commemorate New York City's 400th Anniversary, Celebrates Historic Investments in City's Cultural Institutions

June 10, 2025

Watch video here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di6aHO9-y3Y

Adams Administration’s “Founded By NYC” Campaign Commemorating City’s 400 th 
Anniversary Through Concerts, Celebrations, and Free Events During 2025

Announcement Follows Mayor Adams’ Unveiling of “Best Budget Ever,” Which Invests in
Affordability, Public Safety, and Quality-of-Life Issues New Yorkers Care Most About

Mayor Adams’ “Best Budget Ever” Also Invests Nearly $215 Million in DCLA, 
Including Additional $45 Million in Permanent, Baseline Funding

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) Commissioner Laurie Cumbo, and NYC Tourism + Conventions President and CEO Julie Coker today announced several upcoming events that will take place as part of the Adams administration’s “Founded By NYC” campaign, commemorating the 400th anniversary of New York City. Originally unveiled at the end of 2024, Founded By NYC celebrates New York City’s past, present, and future through activations across the five boroughs — including New York City-themed movies as part of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks) free summer movies series; the largest-ever New York City Department of Transportation Summer Streets with 400 blocks of free events citywide; and more. Mayor Adams also encouraged New Yorkers to visit the 47th annual Museum Mile Festival, which will take place tonight from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM along Fifth Avenue; offer New Yorkers free admission to eight of the city’s most prominent museums; and feature live programs, musical performances, exhibitions, and more.

Mayor Adams today also celebrated historic investments in the city’s cultural sector made by the Adams administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Executive Budget — also known as the “Best Budget Ever.” Mayor Adams’ Best Budget Ever — released earlier this year — invests nearly $215 million in DCLA, helping enrich cultural institutions, attract tourists, and support good-paying jobs. Additionally, DCLA will receive a permanent — or baseline — funding increase of $45 million, the agency’s first substantial baseline funding increase in a decade. That additional funding will bolster the city’s Cultural Development Fund, which supports more than 1,000 cultural organizations and neighborhood-based groups citywide, as well as the city’s 34 Cultural Institution Group (CIG) member organizations. Moreover, as part of its 10-year capital plan, the Best Budget Ever also includes $3.1 billion for cultural institutions and libraries.

“There’s nothing like summer in the city, especially when we are celebrating 400 years of the greatest city in the world. From free movies and concerts to global festivals, our administration is excited to bring families together and celebrate New York City’s history and dynamism through our ‘Founded By NYC’ campaign. But we’re not stopping there,” said Mayor Adams. “With the historic investments in our city’s cultural organizations as part of our ‘Best Budget Ever,’ we’ll bolster the world-class cultural organizations that bring our families together and give our museums, performing arts centers, gardens, and more the resources they need to thrive.”

“Culture is the heartbeat of our city — driving our economy, strengthening our communities, and making New York the most vibrant, dynamic place on the globe,” said DCLA Commissioner Cumbo. “We’re so proud of the historic investment made by Mayor Adams in the ‘Best Budget Ever,’ which will support public programming at over 1,000 cultural nonprofits across the city. And the incredible programming this funding supports will be on full display in the months ahead: from the Museum Mile Festival to ‘Founded by NYC,’ from Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City to BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn, and so much more, New Yorkers will have opportunities all summer long to engage with the amazing cultural programming that brings life and energy to every corner of New York.”

“‘Founded by NYC’ shines a spotlight on the creative energy that lives in every corner of our city,” said NYC Tourism + Conventions President and CEO Coker. “From iconic institutions along Museum Mile to local cultural gems across the five boroughs, this campaign celebrates the artists, performers, and storytellers who make New York City unlike anywhere else in the world. We invite New Yorkers and visitors alike to experience the vibrancy of our communities and discover what makes New York City the global capital of culture.”

The Adams administration’s Founded By NYC campaign brings together organizations across the city, including the Lenape Center,  The Broadway League, the Museum of the City of New York, Times Square Alliance, multiple Business Improvement Districts, all city agencies, and more. All year, New York City’s 400th anniversary is being incorporated into major city events in the worlds of art, film, music, and more, including Gracie Mansion’s art installations, New York free summer movies featuring notable films set in the five boroughs, the Museum Mile Festival, performances by Broadway stars, and the largest-ever Summer Streets. New York City’s 400th anniversary themes will be featured at additional events, parades, festivals, institutions, and celebrations across the city with announcements to come throughout the year. The campaign is supported by “Hamilton,” the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, including the song, “The Schuyler Sisters,” which provides the soundtrack for the Founded By NYC teaser video.

The Founded By NYC campaign highlights the achievements driven by the creativity and resilience of the five boroughs and its people, including the perspectives of marginalized audiences like those of the Indigenous community, women, and people of color. Throughout planning for New York City’s 400th anniversary, the Mayor’s Office has partnered with the Lenape Center to uplift the voices of the Lenape community. Last year, Mayor Adams proclaimed November 20 “Lenape Heritage Day” in a ceremony at Gracie Mansion. This announcement came one year after Mayor Adams hosted the first-ever mayoral reception celebrating Native American and Indigenous heritage at Gracie Mansion, to ensure the past contributions and painful experiences of the Lenape people and other Indigenous communities are not lost to history.

A series of year-long events, programs and partnerships participating in the Founded By NYC campaign are listed below. New Yorkers can learn more about individual events by visiting the Founded by NYC website.

1. Fanatics Fest NYC

• Dates: June 20–22, 2025 
• Description: This massive sports and collectibles festival at the Javits Center — which features athlete meet-and-greets, exclusive merchandise, and interactive experiences — will incorporate Founded By NYC materials throughout the celebration to celebrate the city’s influence on sports, cultural, and collectibles. 

2. NYC Pride

• Dates: June 27–29, 2025 
• Description: Founded by NYC will be featured as part of the official NYC Pride partnership, celebrating local identity and LGBTQ+ contributions through co-branded content, presence at the Pride Parade, and video broadcasts. 

3. NBC and Telemundo Programming

• Dates: June-December 2025   
• Description: NYC Tourism + Conventions is partnering with NBC and Telemundo to launch a series of co-branded Founded By NYC segments on NYC POV, NY Live, and Accesso. This will also include a 30-minute special to air later this year celebrating the city’s 400th anniversary and media placements throughout the NBC Universal network.  

4. Summer Streets

• Dates: July 26; August 2, 9, and 16, 2025 
• Description: In celebration of New York City’s 400th anniversary, the beloved Summer Streets program returns bigger than ever. As part of this milestone year, the city will shut down 400 blocks across all five boroughs throughout the summer — transforming them into car-free playgrounds for residents and visitors alike.

5. Atlas Obscura Podcast

• Dates: June-December 2025 
• Description: Atlas Obscura, the top travel podcast, will host an episode dedicated to Founded By NYC focused on the origin of chopped cheese, as well as offer supporting media.

6. Bowery Boys Podcast

• Dates: June-December 2025 
• Description: The Bowery Boys, renowned New York City history podcast and walking tour company will partner with Founded By NYC to launch dedicated podcast episodes, a branded walking tour, and supporting media. 

7. Planet Brooklyn

• Dates: August 23–24, 2025 
• Description: A first-of-its-kind two-day music festival and experience to celebrate and highlight artists who represent the cultural and creative diversity found within the borough of Brooklyn and the varied genres of music they represent. Hosted by Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment, the experience will feature performances across three iconic entertainment venues in the borough – Barclays Center, Brooklyn Paramount and Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). Tickets will be available for individual performances across all three venues, allowing fans to customize their experience. Additionally, a free two-day block party will take place on the surrounding streets, featuring local food vendors, artisans, and performances by emerging artists.  

8. Movies Under the Stars

• Dates: Throughout Summer 2025 
• Description: This summer, NYC Parks is proud to partner with NYC Tourism + Conventions as part of the Founded By NYC campaign. Ten of the “Movies Under the Stars screenings” will feature films shot in New York City, highlighting the streets, stories, and spirit that make the five boroughs iconic. 

9. Staten Island FerryHawks

• Dates: Various dates throughout the 2025 season  
• Description: The Staten Island FerryHawks are a professional baseball team based in Staten Island, New York, competing in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. As part of the Founded By NYC campaign, the Staten Island FerryHawks are celebrating New York City’s legacy and contributions to American history through a series of themed games that honor the past, uplift local heritage, and connect community stories to national moments.  

10. Founded on Broadway

• Date: September 7, 2025 
• Description: The Adams administration and The Broadway League will present “Founded on Broadway” — a 90-minute live concert in Times Square to launch Fall NYC Broadway Week and showcase the enduring legacy of Broadway. The event will be free and open-to-the-public.   

11. Global Citizen Festival

• Date: September 27, 2025 
• Description: This free, ticketed event on Central Park’s Great Lawn brings together top artists and global leaders in the fight against extreme poverty. Founded By NYC will host an art installation as part of the festival. 

12. New York Comic Con

• Dates: October 9–12, 2025 
• Description: The East Coast’s largest pop culture convention — showcasing comics, movies, TV shows, and more at the Javits Center — will amplify Founded By NYC messaging and showcase the city’s cultural impact.  

13. Food Network NYC Wine & Food Festival

• Dates: October 15–19, 2025 
• Description: This culinary extravaganza features world-class chefs, tastings, and seminars throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan. Founded By NYC will help partner on an event in the Seaport neighborhood that highlights the Seaport’s heritage through the city's best seafood and oyster dishes and showcase the city’s waterfront heritage. 

14. New York Road Runners Marathon

• Date: November 2, 2025 
• Description: The iconic New York City Marathon, where runners traverse all five boroughs in a 26.2-mile race, will work with Founded By NYC to raise awareness of the 400th anniversary and celebrate the city’s heritage. 

15. New York City Comedy Festival

• Dates: November 7-16, 2025 
• Description: This week-long celebration of comedy will include performances from top comedians across various the city and amplify the Founded By NYC campaign throughout the festival. 

Mayor Adams today also touted investments made by his Best Budget Ever in DCLA and the city’s cultural organizations. Mayor Adams’ Best Budget Ever increased DCLA’s baseline funding by an additional $45 million, the first substantial increase in over a decade. That funding includes an additional $23.5 million for the city’s Cultural Development Fund, which supports programming at over 1,000 cultural nonprofits across the city each year, helps create jobs, and strengthens the city’s flourishing cultural sector. The $45 million baseline increase also includes an additional $21.5 million in baseline funding for the city’s CIG network — 34 private, non-profit cultural organizations on city-owned property, including museums, performing arts centers, historical societies, zoos, botanical gardens, and more. Along with a total expense investment of nearly $215 million in DCLA for FY 2026, Mayor Adams Best Budget Ever also includes $3.1 billion for cultural institutions and libraries through the 10-Year Capital Plan. Each year, DCLA supports more than 1,000 cultural nonprofits in all corners of the city. From small, volunteer-run community arts groups to some of the most visited and iconic cultural institutions in the city, these groups represent the full breadth of the city’s rich cultural life. With the $45 million in baseline funding, DCLA can provide stable, long-term support for this critical sector in New York City, especially as it faces a range of new challenges.

The Adams administration has prioritized supporting cultural institutions across the five boroughs by, among other things, breaking ground on renovations, expansions, and other city-supported capital projects at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Weeksville Heritage Center, The Bronx Museum, Nuyorican Poets Café, and more in 2024. Additionally, last year, the Adams administration announced more than $52 million in grants for 1,031 cultural organizations through its annual Cultural Development Fund grant making program and diverted over 5.9 million pounds of materials from landfills, making them available to educators, nonprofits, and artists through its Materials for the Arts program free of charge. Finally, to bolster the city’s cultural economy and support more cultural organizations, Mayor Adams announced in his 2025 State of the City address, that New York City will invest more resources into the CIG network, adding up to five additional organizations in order to ensure that the CIG network reflects the rich diversity of the city’s creative sector.

“As New York City commemorates its 400th anniversary, we’re proud to stand alongside Mayor Adams and the Department of Cultural Affairs in celebrating the city’s unparalleled cultural vitality,” said Stephanie Hill Wilchfort, Ronay Menschel director and president, The Museum of the City of New York. “The historic investments made through this year’s Executive Budget affirm the city’s deep commitment to the arts and to institutions like ours that preserve and tell New York’s story. We are honored to be part of the 'Founded By NYC' campaign and the Museum Mile Festival — celebrations that reflect the creativity and resilience of all New Yorkers.”

“We are thrilled to see a historic $45 million baseline increase for arts and culture in the Fiscal 2026 Executive Budget. We thank Mayor Adams, First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro, Deputy Mayor Adolfo Carrión, and Commissioner Cumbo, as well as Speaker Adams and the City Council, for their steadfast support of the arts,” said Coco Killingsworth, chair, Cultural Institutions Group. “Arts and culture are the heart and soul of New York City. It is evident today that the city stands firmly with culture — this funding will bolster the resilience of not just our cultural community, but all of New York. We look forward to working with the administration and City Council to secure an additional $30 million increase in the Adopted Budget to ensure the continued growth and vitality of our sector!”

“We are thrilled to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the City of New York. The American Museum of Natural History and the city have had a special relationship since our institution was founded more than 150 years ago,” said Sean M. Decatur, president, American Museum of Natural History. “The City of New York provides critical funding to help the Museum fulfill our mission of providing New Yorkers, and visitors from across the country and the world, access to cutting-edge scientific research, exhibitions, and educational programming. New York City’s cultural sector is among the most vibrant in the world, making the city a global attraction for millions, and this additional investment is particularly important during these challenging times in the tourism sector.”

“The TCS New York City Marathon, held on the first Sunday in November, is the best day of the year in the best city in the world, bringing together thousands of athletes, two million spectators, and hundreds of millions of at-home viewers from across the five boroughs and around the globe, all united by the transformative power of running," said Rob Simmelkjaer, CEO, New York Road Runners. “As the nonprofit that ‘runs’ New York City, New York Road Runners is honored to join other quintessential New York City institutions and iconic cultural organizations to celebrate the city's diversity, spirit, and the people and communities that make it possible.”

“We are immensely grateful for these historic investments in our city’s vibrant cultural institutions,” said Jennifer Bernstein, CEO and The William C. Steere, Sr. president, New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). “These vital funds ensure that cultural beacons like NYBG continue to flourish, offering enriching experiences for all New Yorkers and visitors to New York. As we celebrate New York City’s 400th anniversary, we invite everyone to experience the beauty and inspiration of our current exhibition Van Gogh’s Flowers, a perfect example of how art and nature can uplift and connect us.”

“The Brooklyn Museum is giving a standing ovation to the city for its investment in baseline support for cultural organizations. Baseline support has not increased in years, though culturals have been hit hard by the impacts of inflation and rising expenses,” said Anne Pasternak, Shelby White and Leon Levy director, Brooklyn Museum. “In order for us to continue the important services we provide our city – from good jobs to education, from attracting tourism and taxes to supporting economic opportunity for our neighbors, from supporting artists to keeping New York City the global cultural destination it has been – this support and more is needed.”

“We are deeply grateful to the Mayor’s Office and City Council for this historic investment in New York City’s cultural community. The $45 million in baseline funding will provide vital stability to institutions like New York City Center, enabling us to serve artists and audiences more equitably and expansively,” said Michael S. Rosenberg, president and CEO, New York City Center. “Culture is not a luxury — it is the foundation of a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient New York. This support affirms the essential role the arts play in the life of our city.”

“Our city’s cultural institutions provide invaluable connection, community, and joy for all New Yorkers,” said Leah C. Johnson, executive vice president, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. “We are tremendously grateful for the city’s support of our sector, which helps us serve millions of artists, students, and audience members from across the five boroughs.”

“All of SE Queens, including board and staff of Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, salutes and celebrates this first step toward meaningful fiscal equity for outer-borough CIGs through the first baseline increase in many years,” said Leonard Jacobs, executive director, Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning.

“The city’s vital investment in cultural institutions serves as a cornerstone for our city's vibrant landscape, economy, and the very fabric of our community,” said Jack Kliger, president and CEO, Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust. “The museum deeply values the City Council and the mayor’s ongoing support, which not only enables us to pursue our mission but also aligns with the collective effort of all of our cultural institutions — our libraries, zoos, and other members of the Cultural Institutions Group — to educate and enrich the lives of all New Yorkers.”

“We are deeply grateful to Mayor Adams and DCLA Commissioner Cumbo for their leadership and commitment to New York City’s cultural community. The permanent $45 million funding increase in DCLA's budget is historical and a welcome step forward,” said Patrick Willingham, executive director, The Public Theater. “At The Public Theater, we know how vital this support is to the sustainability of arts institutions across the five boroughs. At the same time, we recognize that much more is needed to equitably and adequately fund the full spectrum of New York’s cultural organizations — especially those serving historically underserved communities. We look forward to continued partnership to ensure the city’s cultural landscape remains vibrant, inclusive, and accessible to all.”

“Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden is grateful to Mayor Eric Adams for this visionary FY 26 budget. Increasing the baseline for culture means that Snug Harbor and our peers across the Cultural Institutions Group can plan for a more stable future, while Cultural Development Fund groups enjoy increased access to funding,” said Jessica Baker Vodoor, president and CEO, Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden. “Our work is not done – we are still asking for an additional $30 million for the Culture budget to make our field whole. We are grateful to the administration and City Council for leadership in a time of federal cuts to key programs and appreciate their support for the city’s institutional pillars: culture, libraries, and parks.”

“We are deeply grateful to Mayor Adams, the City of New York, and the Department of Cultural Affairs for their unwavering support of our mission and that of the other cultural organizations in New York City,” said Dina Rosenthal, executive director, Staten Island Children’s Museum. “This vital public funding helps ensure that children and families across our city have access to joyful, enriching learning experiences. It underwrites much of our work and makes it possible for us to serve as a welcoming, imaginative space for all communities. We are proud to be part of the city’s cultural fabric and inspired to contribute to its future.”

“The arts are as basic as housing, medical care, and the need for living wage employment,” said Michael Royce, CEO, New York Foundation for the Arts. “This historic increase for cultural dollars by Mayor Adams is a testimony of his support for the arts in the greatest city in the world, so that people can feel understood, uplifted, witnessed and connected to each other.”

“I'm incredibly thankful for New York City's significant $45 million increase in the city budget for culture,” said Moe Yousuf, president and CEO, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. “This crucial funding ensures that artists throughout Manhattan will continue to have essential opportunities to present and share their work directly with their neighbors and local audiences. Art is about fostering robust and vibrant places emotionally, educationally, and financially. It fuels our local economies, drives tourism, and offers unique experiences that attract visitors and residents alike. We extend our deepest gratitude to DCLA Commissioner Laurie Cumbo and Mayor Eric Adams for their leadership and unwavering dedication to the arts.”

“We are thrilled to bring the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival to the historic Seaport area this year,” said Lee Brian Schrager, founder, Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival. “This iconic location, with its rich maritime history and vibrant atmosphere, provides the perfect backdrop for celebrating the culinary arts and to celebrate NYC's milestone birthday with our partner, NYC Tourism. We look forward to an unforgettable festival filled with delicious food, exceptional wines, and the joy of bringing the  NYC community together.”

 “The spirit and resilience of our city's queer community sparked the modern Pride movement, and we're excited to team up with NYC Tourism's Founded By NYC campaign to uplift this history and honor this legacy,” said Matthew Şenız-Cheng, associate director of corporate partnerships, NYC Pride.  

###