Supporting NYC's Immigrant Arts Ecosystem in a Time of Crisis

Immigrants have become increasingly pivotal to the success of the arts in New York. Though their contributions are too often overlooked, immigrants make up a growing share of the city’s artists and play a lead role in sharpening New York’s creative edge, preserving cultural heritage, and anchoring the city’s position as a global leader in contemporary culture. But now the livelihoods of countless immigrant artists—and the survival of the cultural organizations that champion their work—are facing major threats from the COVID pandemic.

This forum will explore the growing role of immigrant artists in New York’s cultural life, the impact of the COVID crisis on the immigrant arts ecosystem, and the longer-term challenges facing immigrant artists and immigrant-focused arts organizations across all five boroughs. And it will examine what New York City and State can do both now and in the future to help immigrant artists and arts organizations survive the current crisis, overcome other long-standing challenges, and weave new strength into the cultural fabric of New York City.

Confirmed speakers include:

Gonzalo Casals, Commissioner, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
Council Member Carlina Rivera, New York City Council
State Senator José M. Serrano, Chair of Majority Conference & Committee on Cultural Affairs, New York State Senate
Karesia Batan, Founder, Queensboro Dance Festival
Sandie Luna, Executive Director, ID Studio Theater
Tijay Mohammed, Artist
Peter Rushefsky, Executive Director, Center for Traditional Music and Dance
Hussein Smko, Artist
Sally Tallant, President & Executive Director, Queens Museum

Registration is required.