Brooklyn Council Member Intros Arts Bill

Council Member Steve Levin of Greenpoint has introduced a bill to save New York from being overrun by the finance world and pushing out artists, the New York Daily Eagle reported. “For many artists in New York City, it is a struggle each and every day to make a living,” he told the paper. “By having a cultural plan that maps our cultural priorities and figures out how we can improve conditions for artists, we can make New York City a place more accommodating to artists and the incredible work they do.”

The legislation, which was jointly developed with Queens rep Jimmy Van Bramer, would require the City to create a “cultural plan” by analyzing its cultural priorities, how different communities are being served by the arts, the condition of artists in the City today, how New York can remain artist friendly despite rapidly rising rents, and what communities want arts- and culture-wise. Such plans are routine in other cities nationwide, according to the story.

Without such a bill, “we’ll just be a congested banking city,” according to Chocolate Factory founder Sheila Lewandowski. “We need to establish a five-borough cultural policy that makes sure that all communities and all ages have access to art, and that artists are not only enticed to make it big in NYC, they are encouraged to stay and invest their talents where they live.” Above, a scene from Brooklyn’s Beat Festival. Do you think the City, and Brooklyn specifically, needs such a plan, or do the arts just take care of themselves here?

Greenpoint Council Member Asks City to Develop Cultural Plan [Brooklyn Eagle]
Photo Via Beat Festival