Archive News for 2013

Governors Island Permit Process for 2014 Programming Now Open

Through the online permit process, cultural organizations can propose programming during any part of the public season. Programs can occur in the nearly two dozen historic buildings totaling over 200,000 square feet, or outdoor spaces across the Island.
Posted on December 12, 2013.
Learn more and apply.

RFEI Released for Staten Island Beachfronts

The New York City Economic Development Corporation, Department of Parks and Recreation, and Mayor’s Office have released a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) seeking ideas for re-activating and re-invigorating public beachfronts and beach-adjacent open spaces along Staten Island’s East and South Shores, including innovative arts programs. Submissions for early summer 2014 are being accepted from December 20 – January 21, 2014.
Posted December 12, 2013.
Learn more and apply.

The Alliance of Resident Theatres / New York Celebrates Plans for Two New Theaters

On December 12, Commissioner Levin helped to celebrate the design of A.R.T. / New York’s new theater facility on west 53rd street in Manhattan, located in the Archstone Clinton development. When it’s complete, the new facility will provide affordable rehearsal and space for performing arts organizations.
Posted December 12, 2013.

Weeksville Heritage Center Celebrates Completion of its New Education and Cultural Arts Building in Central Brooklyn

The new building, which includes a Percent for Art commission by Chakaia Booker, will provide expanded space for education, programming, and research at the historic Weeksville Heritage Center. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on December 11.
Posted on December 12, 2013.
Learn More.

Flea Theater Breaks Ground on a New Facility in Lower Manhattan

On December 5, Commissioner Levin joined Flea Theater representatives and other officials to mark the start of construction on a permanent new home for the pioneering theater company.
Posted December 12, 2013.
Learn more.

New Leopard Exhibit Unveiled at the

Staten Island Zoo
On November 22, Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Levin joined representatives from the Zoo and other officials to unveil a new City-funded, 4,500 square foot Amur leopard exhibit.
Posted on November 27, 2013.
Learn more about the new exhibit.

Officials Break Ground on 122 Community Center Renovation

On November 18, Commissioner Levin and Design and Construction Commissioner Burney joined Council Members Rosie Mendez and Jimmy Van Bramer to mark the start of construction at 122 Community Center in the East Village. The $35 million city-funded renovation project will provide expanded and improved space in the historic school building for four arts and social service nonprofits.
Posted on November 27, 2013.
Learn more about the 122 Community Center renovation.

Mayor Bloomberg Opens Renovated Multi-Disciplinary Art and Media Center

The renovated building in the Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District provides improved and expanded space for two cultural organizations, BRIC and UrbanGlass.
Posted on October 16, 2013.
Learn more.

Percent for Art 30th Anniversary Celebrated at Design Excellence Awards

At the annual Awards for Excellence in Design ceremony on July 17, First Deputy Mayor Patti Harris honored the 30th anniversary of Percent for Art, the City’s permanent public art program established by Mayor Ed Koch and managed by the Department of Cultural Affairs. Several online initiatives have been launched to mark the milestone and expand access to the collection including a map, redesigned web pages with a new interface for mobile devices and web browsers, and new social media channels.
Posted on July 29, 2013.
Explore the new Percent pages.

2014 SPARC Call for Artists Now Closed

Artists placements for SPARC: Seniors Partnering with Artists Citywide residencies will be announced in December 2013.
Posted October 16, 2013.
Learn more about SPARC.

SPARC: Seniors Partnering with Artists Citywide Call for Artists Extended for Queens and Staten Island

The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and Department for the Aging announce the Call for Artists for SPARC: Seniors Partnering with Artists Citywide, a community arts engagement program that will place artists-in-residence at senior centers across the five boroughs starting January 2014. Through SPARC, artists of all disciplines develop projects with seniors in exchange for a stipend and access to workspace. The deadline to apply has been extended to October 11 for artists interested
in residencies in Queens and Staten Island.
Posted on October 2, 2013.
Learn more and apply.

Mayor Bloomberg, Commissioner Levin and Other Officials Cut the Ribbon on Spaceworks LIC

Spaceworks LIC is the pilot performing arts rental facility of Spaceworks, a nonprofit organization launched by the City to develop, maintain, and manage affordable workspace for artists based in New York City. Three rehearsal spaces and one music studio can be rented hourly by performing artists starting this September.
Posted on August 22, 2013.
Learn more about Spaceworks.

Low Interest Loans and Matching Grants Available for Organizations Impacted by Hurricane Sandy

Eligible groups may qualify for up to $150,000 in loans and $60,000 in matching grants from NYC Business Solutions.
Posted on July 29, 2013.
Learn more and apply.

Mayor Bloomberg Highlights Free and Low Cost Cultural Activities

In honor of the summer season, Mayor Bloomberg outlined some of the free and low-cost, family-friendly cultural activities occurring throughout the five boroughs. There are countless opportunities for New Yorkers and visitors to experience the creativity that makes New York City a great place to live, work and visit.
Posted on July 3, 2013.
Read more.

City Seeking Proposals for Cultural Programs in Public Spaces in Water Street District

The City is seeking proposals for programming and activities for privately-owned public spaces (POPS) in the Water Street District.
Posted on May 17, 2013
Learn more and apply.

Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City Announces New Grants for NYC Nonprofits Impacted by Hurricane Sandy

The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City has announced that nonprofits impacted by the storm are eligible to apply for grants, in addition to loans, through the NYC Nonprofit Recovery Loan Program to assist nonprofits in recovering from Hurricane Sandy.
Posted on April 5, 2013
Learn more and apply.

Flushing Town Hall Opens New Garden Space

Commissioner Levin joined representatives of Flushing Town Hall and other local officials to cut the ribbon on a new garden adjacent to the historic cultural center. The space will host a range of arts programming and other events for the Flushing community.
Posted July 11, 2013.
Learn more about Flushing Town Hall.

Wave Hill House Reopens

On June 18, Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Levin joined Wave Hill, a public garden and cultural center in the Bronx, to announce the completion of a two-year renovation of Wave Hill House, the garden’s historic Hudson River mansion. The City provided support for the transformative project, which will help ensure the building's longevity and improve accessibility.
Posted on June 21, 2013.
Learn more about Wave Hill.

Theater Subdistrict Council Now Accepting Initial Submissions for New Grant Program

Deadline for Concept Papers is July 17, 2013
The Theater Subdistrict Council has announced a new grant program which will award up to $1 million for a major, transformative project that recognizes the vital role theater plays in the cultural, economic and social well-being of NYC. Four information sessions for potential applicants will be held between May 29 and June 10.
Posted on May 21, 2013.
Read the guidelines.
Download the transmittal sheet.

Seniors Partnering with Artists Citywide (SPARC) Presents Free Cultural Events this Summer

The New York City Departments of Cultural Affairs and Aging and borough arts councils announce public events for SPARC, a community arts engagement program that places artists-in-residence at senior centers across the five boroughs. From dance and music to theater, film and visual arts, SPARC artists and senior participants are presenting FREE public events featuring their creative projects this summer. To browse events, visit the NYCulture Calendar and select the “SPARC” category from the drop
down menu.
Posted on June 7, 2013.
Find a SPARC event near you.

New York State Council for the Humanities Hosts Hurricane Sandy Recovery Workshop on Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The workshop is open to any tax-exempt organization that has cultural programming, including recipients of the Council's Hurricane Recovery Grants. Organizations affected by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee are also welcome to attend.
Posted on May 22, 2013.
RSVP today.

New York Community Trust Announces Arts & Culture Research Fund Grant Recipients

NYCT has awarded $110,000 to six nonprofits to support research that will create a deeper understanding of the role of arts and culture in New York State. The grantees will use the Cultural Data Project as a primary source of data.
Posted May 22, 2013.
Learn more.

Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Levin Join Museum of the Moving Image to Announce Construction of a New Gallery Devoted to Jim Henson

The City will help build a new gallery to house 400 puppets, costumes, props and other items donated to the MOMI by The Jim Henson Legacy.
Posted May 22, 2013.
Learn more about the new gallery.

Commissioner Levin Joins Downtown Community Television Center to Break Ground on a New Documentary Cinema

The DCTV Cinema, a 73 seat, fully-interactive, digital cinema, will provide a state-of-the-art venue specifically for documentaries in DCTV’s landmark facility.
Posted on May 17, 2013
Learn more about the cinema.

NYC Department of Transportation Seeking Performers and Nonprofit Partners for Summer Streets 2013

DOT is seeking performers to present dance, music and theater, and nonprofit partners to host activities, workshops, and demonstrations along the Summer Streets 2013 route.
Learn more at www.nyc.gov/summerstreets.
Posted on May 17, 2013
Download the application.

Mayor Bloomberg and Commissioner Levin Help Unveil Two Temporary Public Art Installations

This spring, the Mayor and Commissioner Levin joined the Public Art Fund, Madison Square Park Conservancy, and the commissioned artists to unveil two exciting public art installations. Public Art Fund’s “Human Nature” by Ugo Rondinone will be in Rockefeller Center through June 7 and Madison Square Park Conservancy’s “Red, Yellow and Blue” by Orly Genger will be in the park through September 8.
Posted on May 8, 2013.
Learn more about “Human Nature.”

NYCxDESIGN, New York City’s Inaugural Design Showcase, Starts May 10

From May 10 through May 21, 2013, over 200 events across the city will highlight the breadth and vitality of New York’s design community.
Posted on May 8, 2013.
Learn more about NYCxDESIGN.

Materials for the Arts Launches New Website

Materials for the Arts has launched a redesigned website that makes it easier for material donors, nonprofit arts programs and school groups to utilize online services, arrange for item pickups and drop-offs, and schedule visits to the warehouse for shopping days, public events and volunteer opportunities.
Posted on April 23, 2013
Explore the new site.

Cultural Affairs Capital Projects Honored by the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter

At the AIA New York Chapter’s annual awards ceremony, three capital projects that received support from the Department of Cultural Affairs—New-York Historical Society, New York City Center, and The Children’s Museum of the Arts—were recognized for excellence in design.
Posted on April 23, 2013
Read more about the 2013 AIA New York Chapter Design Awards.

Commissioner Levin Breaks Ground on Renovation and Expansion of the Sculpture Center

On Tuesday April 2, 2013, Commissioner Levin joined Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, City Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer, and Sculpture Center leadership to break ground on a construction project that will double the organization’s gallery space and enhance its Long Island City home. Construction is expected to be complete in Spring 2014.
Posted on April 5, 2013
Learn more about Sculpture Center.

Mayor Bloomberg Celebrates Poem in Your Pocket Day

On April 18 in honor of April as National Poetry Month, Mayor Bloomberg celebrated the 11th annual Poem in Your Pocket Day in New York City. In addition to announcing the winners of the #NYCPoetweet contest and promoting literary events across the City, the Mayor penned his own poem.
Posted on April 23, 2013
Read the Mayor Bloomberg’s poem, “Artistic Freedom.”

Application Period to Submit Arts & Culture Research Proposals The New York Community Trust CLOSED

The deadline to apply to the Arts & Culture Research Fund was March 15, 2013. Competitive grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 will be awarded to eligible nonprofits and fiscally-sponsored individuals or organizations to examine a wide variety of topics relating to New York’s creative community including economic impact studies, trends in tourism and education, and more, using information collected by the CDP. Award announcements will be made later this spring.
Posted on April 5, 2013
Learn more about the Cultural Data Project.

Special Initiative for Rebuilding & Resiliency Public Workshops | March 6 – 19, 2013

The City’s Special Initiative for Rebuilding & Resiliency is convening 10 public workshops to learn more about Hurricane Sandy’s impact and discuss long-term strategies for rebuilding.

Learn more and find a workshop near you.

Mayor Bloomberg Announces Nonprofit Recovery Loan Program for Groups Impacted by Hurricane Sandy

$26 Million Program Will Provide Interest-free Loans Ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 to Eligible Nonprofits
The NYC Nonprofit Recovery Loan Program will cover losses associated with the disruption of operations and property damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. Priority will be given to organizations that have suffered the most severe losses and those that are operating in the worst affected areas. The announcement included additional initiatives targeted to nonprofits including a collaboration with the Lawyers Alliance to provide pro-bono legal assistance, briefings on federal reimbursements, support
through the NYC Restoration Centers, and more.
Learn more about the loan program and other Sandy-related nonprofit assistance initiatives.

The New York Community Trust Announces Request for Proposals for Arts & Culture Research in New York State

On February 1, 2013 the Arts & Culture Research Fund, a new fund established by The New York Community Trust, the Cultural Data Project (CDP) and other funders, announced a Request for Proposals (RFP) for research focused on understanding the cultural sector in New York State. Competitive grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 will be awarded to eligible nonprofits and fiscally-sponsored individuals or organizations to examine a wide variety of topics relating to New York’s creative community
including economic impact studies, trends in tourism and education, and more, using information collected by the CDP. The deadline to submit proposals is March 15, 2013.
Learn more and access the RFP.

The Mayor's Awards for Arts and Culture Handel Medallion Presented to Harvey Lichtenstein

On February 20, 2013, Mayor Bloomberg presented the Mayor’s Awards for Arts & Culture at New York City Center. Awards recipients included Nathaniel Hawthorne Middle School Principal Anthony Armstrong; the Ford Foundation; Philip Glass; Edward Norton; the St. George Theatre; and artist Fred Wilson. The Mayor also presented the Handel Medallion, New York City’s highest award for achievement in the arts, to dancer and arts administrator Harvey Lichtenstein. The event was co-hosted by Whoopie
Goldberg, and featured live performances by arts groups from across the City.
Read more about the Mayor’s Awards.

2013 Artist Placements Announced for SPARC: Seniors Partnering With Artists Citywide

The Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), the Department for the Aging (DFTA), and five local arts councils have announced the selection of fifty artists for SPARC residencies in 48 senior centers across the City. SPARC will provide participating artists with access to studio space and a stipend in exchange for the creation and delivery of arts programming for seniors.
See the list of artist placements.
Learn more about SPARC.

The Fiscal 2014 Cultural Development Fund Application Period is currently CLOSED.

The deadline for Cultural Development Fund applications was February 11, 2013. The Department of Cultural Affairs is no longer accepting applications for Fiscal 2014 funding.
Learn more about the agency’s Programs funding process.

Trust for Governors Island Releases Request for Proposals for Historic District Redevelopment

Nonprofits Eligible to Apply for Adaptive Reuse Projects at More than 40 Buildings
On December 10, 2012, the Trust for Governors Island released a Request for Proposals for the redevelopment of buildings within the Island's Historic District. Applications are due in March 2013.

Learn more about the Governors Island RFP.

The Cultural Recovery Center Opens in Brooklyn

Operated by The Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (FAIC), the Center for Cultural Recovery is a temporary facility in Sunset Park, Brooklyn where artists and cultural groups affected by Hurricane Sandy can receive access to work space and assistance from volunteer preservation professionals.
Learn more about the Cultural Recovery Center.

DCLA’s Community Arts Leadership Training Program Now Accepting Applications

The Department of Cultural Affairs’ Community Arts Development Program (CADP) is launching Community Arts Leadership, a capacity-building initiative offered to leaders of eligible community-based cultural organizations. Through workshops, one-on-one technical assistance, and presentations from the field, the 12-month program focuses on board development, strategic planning, financial management, and other challenges facing nonprofit cultural leaders. There will be no cost for selected
participants. Mandatory application workshops run through February 20, 2013.
Learn more and apply.