CRNY Announces Statewide Arts Advocacy Coalition
New York, NY—Today marks the official launch of Voices for Creative New York, a statewide culture and arts advocacy coalition that brings together arts advocates across discipline and geography to champion the creative workforce and the health of our arts ecosystem across New York State.
Incubated at Creatives Rebuild New York, Voices for Creative New York will be co-led by five nonprofit organizations with deep commitments and networks among New York’s myriad arts communities: ArtsNYS, Black Artist Collective CNY, Culture and Arts Policy Institute, Freelancers Union, and New Yorkers for Culture and the Arts.
The effort will be administered by New Yorkers for Culture and Arts, with dedicated funds for the partner organizations to support participation by individual artists, statewide data collection, ongoing communications with the field, and a co-governance committee.
This announcement follows an 18-month participatory process led by Creatives Rebuild New York with support from HR&A Advisors, in which artists, arts service organizations, and arts advocacy groups across the state were engaged to help shape this collaboration. This process, all participants, and key recommendations are summarized in the report “Voices for Creative New York Blueprint,” which also lays out ways for local and regional funders to support the initiative.
Creatives Rebuild New York is providing $470,000 in seed funding to support the collaboration’s first two years. “It is crucial that we prioritize continued advocacy and policy work that supports the needs of artists and cultural workers across the State, as the need for arts advocacy is more important than ever,” said CRNY Executive Director Sarah Calderón. “While CRNY is closing, this coalition and its commitments live on.”
“At a time when so many forces wish to divide us, we are excited to work on an authentic effort to build connection,” said Lucy Sexton, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Culture & Arts. “By working with artists and culture workers from every community, and with cultural organizations of all sizes in every part of our state, Voices for Creative NY will work to support and strengthen the whole of NY’s cultural ecosystem. We can and must build new systems to sustain our state’s cultural life; it’s critical to our communities, our well-being, our economy, and our democracy.”
“What we’re witnessing isn’t just defunding, it’s a deliberate strategy to revise, erase, and control the cultural record,” said Cjala Surratt, co-founder of the Black Artist Collective, CNY. “Voices for Creative New York is committed to advancing thoughtful, equity-centered policy that recognizes the arts as essential civic infrastructure. This is not simply about restoring funding; it’s about investing in the systems that sustain creative life, ensuring artists and cultural workers have the stability and resources they need to thrive. BAC looks forward to supporting this intentionally cross-sector work. VCNY advocates for policy synergy across housing, education, workforce development, mobile healthcare, and economic justice because a resilient creative sector is inseparable from a resilient New York.”
“Freelancers Union is honored to join this powerful coalition of advocates, organizers, and artists working to ensure New York’s creative workers are seen, supported, and prioritized. Voices for Creative New York gives us the opportunity to collectively advance equity-centered policies, from portable benefits to fair funding that reflect the realities of how creative people live and work today. We’re proud to stand alongside our partners in building a stronger, more
inclusive future for all creative New Yorkers,” stated Rafael Espinal, Executive Director of Freelancers Union.
“VCNY is building a statewide infrastructure that centers equity and uplifts artists and cultural worker leadership. Systems change requires vision, coordination, and time, and VCNY provides New York’s creative sector with the framework to organize, advocate, and remain accountable. We’re proud to help anchor its data strategy because we can’t change what we don’t understand—and evidence-based advocacy delivers real results,” said Gonzalo Casals and Mauricio Delfin, Co-Directors, Culture and Arts Policy Institute.
“ArtsNYS looks forward to this ambitious partnership,” said Elizabeth Lane, Executive Director of ArtsNYS. “For more than a decade, we’ve convened voices across the state—from Buffalo to Albany to Long Island—and we continue to hear the same message: artists need funding and supportive policies to create and thrive in rural communities, small towns and villages, and our many cities. Now is the time to come together and shape a unified vision for the future of the arts in New York state.”
“New York’s vibrant art, performance, and music scenes attract visitors from around the world and are key drivers of our state’s economy. They also bring joy and color to our lives,” said Senator Rachel May. “I will continue supporting the arts and music community in the Senate to ensure New York remains one of the top arts destinations in the world.”
“Artists and the art they create play a critical role in our economy and our society. I have always been a proud supporter of the arts, and I’m grateful for the initiatives being introduced by Voices for Creative New York that support diverse artists across the state,” said Congressman John Mannion. “An investment in the arts is an investment for all New Yorkers, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact these initiatives have in the future.”
Craig T. Peterson, Program Director, Arts, Culture & Historic Preservation of The New York Community Trust, said, “Artists and cultural workers from every corner of the state coming together with clear, strategic purpose make for a powerful coalition. What enables VCNY to be effective is not just what it asks for—policy, representation, and a seat at every table—but the way it uses creative leadership as a foundational value.”
“New York’s creative workforce is one of our most powerful assets. They drive the economy and our culture, yet are too often left without the resources, recognition, and representation that they deserve. The launch of Voices for Creative New York is a bold and necessary step toward changing that. A healthy arts ecosystem depends on intentional public policy and investments and sustained advocacy, and I commend the founding partners and supporters for building a coalition to support our statewide arts community,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs and Libraries.
“Art and culture are central to making our cities flourish in so many ways: they drive our economy, strengthen our communities, and engage, educate, and inspire people in all corners of New York,” said NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “Voices for Creative New York is launching at such an urgent moment for our cultural sector, as we collectively face a wide range of critical challenges. We need to make sure that the creative sector has a seat at the table for policy conversations of all kinds—especially around workforce and economic development—so I applaud Creatives Rebuild New York and their partners for engaging in the long-term, thoughtful work to advocate on behalf of our sector across the state.”
“Artists and cultural workers are vital to New York’s identity and economy. I’m proud to support Voices for Creative New York as they organize for equity, labor rights, and stronger support for our state’s creative communities,” said Assemblymember Pamela Hunter.
New Yorkers for Culture & Arts (NY4CA) envisions a future where every New Yorker is embraced by the power of culture and the arts to enrich and transform their lives and express their shared humanity.
Freelancers Union advocates for the rights and protections of the independent workforce. Through policy work, education, and benefits access, the Union champions a more just and sustainable future for all freelancers, especially those in creative and cultural fields.
The Culture and Arts Policy Institute advances systemic change in the culture and arts sector across New York City and the United States by addressing challenges in cultural governance, fair and inclusive access to resources, and collaborative data practices. We champion open government principles (transparency, participation, and accountability) through data-driven research, strategic capacity building, and fostering dialogue across sectors.
The Black Artist Collective CNY (BAC) is committed to uplifting Black and Brown artists across Central New York. BAC amplifies historically marginalized creative voices and centers participatory leadership practices, employing art as a strategic tool for civic engagement, equity, and dismantling systems of injustice. Through performances, exhibitions, education, and policy advocacy, BAC challenges barriers to opportunity and representation to advance policies and practices that foster a more equitable, diverse, and sustainable arts and culture ecosystem.
ArtsNYS is a statewide arts advocacy and service organization, advancing the nonprofit arts sector through policy leadership, strategic convening, and support for artists and organizations across the state. From funding to education, community development to cultural equity, we work to ensure the arts remain central to civic life in every region of New York.
Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) was a three-year, $125 million initiative that provided guaranteed income and employment opportunities to artists across New York State. CRNY believed that artists are workers who deserve equitable, sustainable support structures, and that improving the lives of artists is paramount to the vitality of New York State’s collective social and economic wellbeing. Fiscally sponsored by Tides Center, CRNY represented a $125 million funding commitment, anchored by $115 million from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and $5 million each from the Ford Foundation and Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF). Learn more at creativesrebuildny.org.
For media inquiries or additional information, contact Cjala Surratt at cjalasurratt@gmail.com & Martikah Williams at martikahwilliams@gmail.com.