More than $58 million in Cultural Development Fund Grants have been awarded across New York City's five boroughs. New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo announced the news December 15 that 1,070 cultural organizations have received funds.
New to the grant process this year was a series of equity reforms meant to identify and reduce bias as well as the return of a peer-panel review. This year's grants mark the most funding to the largest number of cultural organizations to date with a focus on smaller organizations, POC-led groups, and first time applicants.
Mayor Adams said in a statement, “By utilizing equity reforms, we are spreading the investments to not only our well-known cultural organizations, but to this city’s smaller, local, and more diverse groups that reflect the histories of all New Yorkers.”
“Oye Group is deeply grateful to receive a Cultural Development Fund award from the Department of Cultural Affairs," said Modesto 'Flako' Jimenez, founder and Artistic Director. "This CDF award supports us in strengthening our ‘Shake on the Block’ program, which introduces Brooklyn youth to Shakespeare and the theatre production process. We believe in teaching our students about the value of their creative work and the responsibility of being a professional artist. With this CDF funding, we'll not only continue this program, we'll also continue to provide the next generation of New York theatre makers with participation stipends to reinforce the value of their hard work.”
Other recipients include Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The Parsnip Ship, Astoria Film Festival, The Paige Fraser Foundation, Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet, The Conference House Association, Noel Pointer Foundation, Tenement Museum, Firelight Media, and more.
For the full list of grants, visit NYC.gov.
