New York City Mayor Eric Adams alongside Commissioner Laurie Cumbo of the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), took a step to fortify the city's creative backbone with the launch of "NYC Create in Place," a pilot initiative aimed at preserving and nurturing the cultural landscape across boroughs. The program serves as a lifeline for the city's cultural organizations and creative businesses, which have been navigating the tumultuous waters of financial strain, resource accessibility, and real estate navigation, particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement obtained by NYC government's official website, Mayor Adams stressed that “‘NYC Create in Place’ will provide technical assistance and support to cultural and creative organizations that are facing long-term or acute challenges to preserve these incredible institutions and the value they bring to their communities.”
“Art and culture are woven into the fabric of every community in New York City, often driven by small, local spaces that serve as hubs for community and connection for New Yorkers. The COVID-19 pandemic left many of our cultural organizations threatened by many aspects, including funding and finding spaces in our city,” Mayor Adams said. Highlighting the purpose behind the initiative, DCLA Commissioner Cumbo, in a New York City government press release added, “With NYC Create in Place, we’re offering a powerful new tool to aid these spaces when they need it most. Create in Place will help them navigate resources and assistance programs, guiding them through challenges so they can maintain a lasting foothold in the communities they’re a part of. We thank our partners across the city, including in the cultural sector, who have helped to inform and shape this exciting new initiative, and we look forward to collaborating with a wide range of New Yorkers to safeguard these essential parts of our city.” The dedicated web portal introduced by the program is a central hub for these entities to find resources, aid programs, and potential partnerships. It also allows landlords to list available spaces that can be aligned with organizations in need.
The "NYC Create in Place Resource Hub" curates an array of resources, including technical help, funding opportunities, and extensive directories of creative workspaces and service providers. “Create in Place acknowledges the vital role the creative sector plays in making New York City the magnetic and inspiring global hub that it is,” B.J. Jones, Executive Director of “New” New York, as mentioned on the City's official website.
Mayor Adams' "Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery," incorporated the creation of NYC Create in Place. This aligns with recommendations from the “New” New York action plan to expand support for the cultural and creative sector and invest in New York's creative economy, which supports 300,000 jobs and generates $110 billion in economic impact, as noted by the city government. Starting in January 2025, a series of virtual workshops and panels are set to provide guidance and insights into commercial leases, nonprofit formation, and independent contracting among others, in association with esteemed legal aid organizations.
Support for this initiative has been resounding, with stakeholders across New York’s artistic ecosystem endorsing its promise. “NYC Create in Place is a groundbreaking step in preserving the vital spaces that freelance workers and cultural organizations rely on to sustain their craft and livelihood. This initiative not only uplifts our city’s creative workforce but also strengthens the cultural fabric that drives our economy and enriches the lives of all New Yorkers,” Rafael Espinal, president of Freelancers Union, told the NYC government. And echoing these sentiments, New York State Assemblymember Tony Simone said, “Create in Place will connect cultural and creative organizations with the space they need to fulfill their missions and uplift our communities through art, culture and innovation. I applaud the Department of Cultural Affairs and Commissioner Laurie Cumbo for prioritizing our cities creative sectors and recognizing their importance in our cities economic strength.”
