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16 JULY 11, 2025
“BEST BUDGET EVER”

Mayor Adams, DCLA, Cultural Leaders Celebrate

Historic Investments In City’s Cultural Sector

FY 2026 Adopted Budget to Create a Safer, More Affordable City for Working-Class Families

OUR BUREAU city is standing up as a strong, de-
pendable partner and source of sup-
New York, NY
port for the cultural programming
ew York City Mayor Eric that enriches the lives of so many
Adams, New York City De- New Yorkers. Cultural nonprofits are
Npartment of Cultural Affairs facing challenges on so many fronts,
(DCLA) Commissioner Laurie Cum- and this investment will help them
bo, and leaders of cultural organiza- weather the storm and continue to
tions from across the city have cele- deliver for New Yorkers the world-
brated historic investments in New class programming that makes our
York City’s cultural sector as part of city a cultural capital. From arts ed-
the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Adopt- ucation to more equitable funding for
ed Budget. The FY 2026 Adopted groups in underserved communities,
Budget — which builds on the Ad- to increased support for individual
ams administration’s initial “Best artists that live and work in our city,
Budget Ever” unveiled earlier this this budget sends a powerful message:
year and passed unanimously by the Arts and culture matter to our city,
New York City Council earlier this and we’re proud to stand with and
week — invests a record $299.6 mil- support the organizations and the
lion in DCLA, including a permanent people that make our sector thrive.”
funding increase of $45 million. That All hnorees with Mayor Adams and Dr Raj Bhayani Mayor Adams’ FY 2026 Execu-
permanent, or baseline, funding in- tive Budget — unveiled earlier this
crease — the first substantial baseline ams administration’s commitment to cused on making life safer and more year and often called the “Best Bud-
funding increase for DCLA in over a make New York City the best place to affordable for our city’s families, each get Ever” — increased DCLA’s base-
decade — was originally announced raise a family. and every day.” line funding by an $45 million. With
as part of Mayor Adams’ Best Budget “Making New York City the best “The quality of life in a great city this increase in funding, DCLA can
Ever in May and included in the final, place to raise a family means invest- is measured in part by the cultural in- provide stable, long-term support for
adopted budget as well. ing in the cultural organizations and stitutions and programs it endows, so this critical sector in New York City,
The FY 26 Adopted Budget also libraries that bring parents, children, we are proud today to have made this especially as it faces a range of new
invests an additional $30 million into and friends together — that is exactly landmark commitment to the cultural challenges. The FY 2026 Adopted
DCLA, bringing the total new invest- what our budget does,” said Mayor life of our city,” said First Deputy May- Budget goes further to strengthen in-
ment in the agency to $75 million Adams. “With a historic $300 million or Randy Mastro. “With the historic vestments in the city’s cultural sector
this fiscal year alone. The additional investment in our city’s cultural sector, investment in our cultural organiza- by adding another $30 million into
funding will bolster the city’s Cultur- we will boost the museums, zoos, and tions and libraries through this year’s DCLA’s budget, for a total of $75 mil-
al Development Fund (CDF), which theaters that make our city special. budget, we will strengthen that quali- lion in new investments through this
supports more than 1,000 cultural or- Ultimately, though, this investment ty of life and ensure that New York re- budget cycle.
ganizations and neighborhood-based is about more than dollars in a bud- mains the greatest city on the globe.” Mayor Adams Best Budget Ever
groups citywide, as well as the city’s get, but about the dance organization “Art and culture are the lifeblood also includes $3.1 billion for cultural
34 Cultural Institution Group (CIG) that helps a young immigrant connect of New York: our city’s unrivaled cul- institutions and libraries through the
member organizations. Moreover, with their culture, the garden that tural sector makes our communities 10-Year Capital Plan. The Adams ad-
the FY 2026 Adopted Budget in- gives families a quality place to picnic safer, our economy stronger, our stu- ministration has prioritized support-
creases funding for the city’s three together, the science exhibit that in- dents more engaged, and our neigh- ing cultural institutions across the
library systems by an additional $17 spires a third grader to study rockets borhoods more vibrant,” said DCLA five boroughs by, among other things,
million, investing a record total of and, someday, make it to Mars. Along Commissioner Cumbo. “The Adams breaking ground on renovations, ex-
$523 million in the city’s libraries to with a record $523 million investment administration couldn’t be prouder pansions, and other city-supported
support operations. Collectively, the in our libraries, historic funding for of the historic investment we’re mak- capital projects at the Brooklyn Chil-
investments celebrated today will universal after-school, and an ambi- ing in our cultural community in the dren’s Museum, the Weeksville Heri-
help bolster the city’s cultural sector, tious tax cut for working-class New city’s budget. With $75 million in new tage Center, The Bronx Museum, Nuy-
attract tourists, and fulfill the Ad- Yorkers, this year’s budget is laser-fo- investments this fiscal year alone, the orican Poets Café, and more in 2024.

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