Making CreateNYC A Cultural Plan for All New Yorkers

97% of people surveyed for the cultural plan said that culture was important for NYC’s quality of life. It’s clear that residents see the arts as something fundamental to what makes our city worth living in and fighting for. 

As something so tightly woven into our communities, culture is not isolated from the range of issues that affect everyone who lives and works here. Throughout CreateNYC public engagement, people from all walks of life spoke up about what they wanted to see in our city’s cultural life; at the same time, they put forward ideas addressing everything from transportation to housing to public safety. 

To help achieve the broader objectives set forth in the plan, everyone’s participation matters. We encourage cultural advocates, workers, and stakeholders to form coalitions and to stay engaged and connected to what’s happening at the local, regional, and national level. Some ways for New Yorkers to stay informed and take action are:

• Show up at public meetings, including CreateNYC Office Hours with the Commissioner, audience-led events that connect the public directly with the Commissioner of Cultural Affairs to discuss issues);  attend a meeting of your local Community Board; and see what public hearings are coming up.

• Reach out to your local elected officials and community board to advocate for or get assistance in civic and quality of life issues. To find your representatives, visit CityMAP, then enter your address and click on Elected Official Information on the right. 

• Learn more about what other City agencies are working on in issue areas that are important to you:

Citywide Strategic Plan

– OneNYC 2050: Building a Strong and Fair City   [Office of the Mayor]

Economy and Jobs

– New York Works: Creating Good Jobs [Office of the Mayor]

Affordable Housing

– Housing New York 2.0 [Department of Housing Preservation and Development]

Neighborhood Zoning 

– Current Neighborhood Zoning Plans/Studies [Department of City Planning]

Public Transportation

– Fast Forward: The Plan to Modernize New York City Transit [Metropolitan Transportation Authority]

Public Parks

– NYC Parks: Framework for an Equitable Future [Department of Parks And Recreation]

Aging Services

Age-friendly NYC: New Commitments for a City for All Ages [Department of the Aging]