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The Topic
The arts encompass virtually all forms of creative expression: music, theater, painting, sculpture, design, film and video, literature and, increasingly, the Internet.
The Context
New York City long has been considered the cultural capital of the nation, a draw to countless artists, writers, and performers. The city's Department of Cultural Affairs estimates that there are more than 1,200 nonprofit arts organizations in the five boroughs, of which at least 600 receive some kind of government support.

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Arts Education Falls Short
Most schools do not comply with a state requirement to teach the arts, according to a new report by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. According to the report, about 7 percent of elementary schools and 27 percent of middle schools offered music, visual arts, dance, and theater, which is required by the state. Less than half of the city’s middle schools offered one or two of those disciplines. The public advocate's office surveyed 100 randomly selected elementary schools and 50 random middle schools. (June 18, 2008)

Annual Arts in Schools Report
The Department of Education released the first "Annual Arts in Schools Report", which provides an analysis of arts education in New York City public schools. The report offers information on arts programs at each school as well as an overall assessment of where schools are excelling or failing to meet goals. The report found that in high schools, nearly half of students (46 percent) are exceeding graduation requirements in the arts. In elementary schools, 98 percent of schools are providing arts education to every student each year, with 62 percent providing instruction in two arts forms. However, only 4 percent of elementary schools are offering all four art forms to every grade annually, as required by the State. At the middle school level, more than 90 percent of schools offer at least one art form and 79 percent offer at least two; but only 29 percent of students received one semester’s instruction in two distinct arts disciplines, as the state requires. (March 11, 2008)

Preliminary Mayor's Management Report
An interim look at the performance of various city agencies was released yesterday in a report called the Preliminary Mayor's Management Report. Published annually, it takes a look at the city's performance in the first four months of the fiscal year and forecasts performance expectations. Much of the information can be broken down by individual agency, issue, or community. Some significant highlights were: Sewer back up complaints jumped by 23 percent; the average response time to heat complaints rose by 50 percent (although stays within the goal of seven hours); and major felony crimes in schools were nearly a third lower than the same quarter last year. (February 15, 2008)

Finding Space a Challenge for Musicians
The high cost of rehearsal and performance spaces is threatening the health of New York City's music community, according to a new report by the non-profit NYC Performing Arts Spaces. In a survey, the group found that over half of respondents couldn't always find affordable spaces that fit their needs. To keep the city's live music scene healthy, the organization recommends creating subsidized spaces and residency programs funded by the government, foundations, and businesses. They additionally call for an expansion of a proposed tax credit for venues that pay musicians prevailing wages to cover larger venues. Musicians also need to organize in order to address their needs, the group says. (January 24, 2008)

Cultural Trolleys in the Outer Boroughs
Cultural Trolleys in the outer boroughs hold great promise, says a new report by the Center for an Urban Future, but they have a mixed track record of success. "While some of the trolleys have had an undeniably positive impact in raising the profile of cultural institutions and puncturing old perceptions of neighborhoods, most of New York’s trolley routes have failed to boost attendance in a meaningful way," the report finds. To be successful, it says, a trolley must run frequently enough to be of use, and be well planned and publicized. The report also says the state and city tourism agencies don't do enough to support them. Furthermore, their intense use of gas is of concern to the report's authors. (August 31, 2007)

New York State Council on the Arts
The New York State Council on the Arts is dedicated to preserving and expanding the rich and diverse cultural resources that are and will become the heritage of New York's citizens.
New York Foundation for the Arts
The New York Foundation for the Arts' (NYFA) mission is to serve individual artists, promote their freedom to develop and create, and provide the public with opportunities to experience and understand their work.
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs supports and strengthens the City’s vibrant cultural life by funding public services at and advocating for nonprofit cultural organizations throughout the five boroughs. The largest government funder of the arts in the nation, the agency works to create and expand access to public programming, provide technical assistance, build audiences, and ensure that arts and culture are central to the City’s economic vitality and quality of life.
Brooklyn Arts Council
The Brooklyn Arts Council, Inc. (BAC) strives to enrich the quality of life throughout Brooklyn by fostering, encouraging and promoting the arts, and providing services to artists and arts organizations.
Bronx Council on the Arts
Encourages public awareness and participation in the arts and promotes nurturing the development of artists, arts organizations, and cultural groups. BCA is also the central clearinghouse for information on culture and arts in the Bronx.
Piet & Anja Oudolf
The Battery Conservancy has chosen the Dutch artist Piet Oudolf to redesign the gardens in Battery Park, including the Gardens of Remembrance.
Cool New York Event Finder
Corresponding with the unveiling of the Gates, the city's Department for Cultural Affairs launched the Cool New York event finder. The site allows you to search events by category (Botanic Garden, Free, Literary etc.) or by borough. Visitors can also search for events by name or date. The Department's general site has more information about funding for cultural organizations and its other programs.
The Importance of the Arts to New York City
A quick article explaining the important economic benefits of New York’s art culture.
Theatre Development Fund
Group supports production of new play and musicals, but best known for the TKTS booth in Times Square. Advantage of the site, aside from telling you a lot more about theatre and TDF, is that you can get on their mailing list for discount seating if you are one of the following "students, teachers, union members, retired person, performing arts professionals, the clergy, and members of the armed forces."
The Pauper
The Pauper is the brainchild of three “starving artists”, all of whom were working in the financial planning industry and saw the desperate need for such services in the artist and creative communities. Provides excellent links for artists.
Broadway
by Brooks Atkinson

Loft Living: Culture and Capital in Urban Change
by Sharon Zukin

New York Modern: The Arts and the City
by William B. Scott and Peter M. Rutkoff

Successful Fundraising for Arts and Cultural Organizations
by Karen Brooks Hopkins and Carolyn Stolper Friedman

The Arts and the Creation of Mind
by Elliot W. Eisner

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