ArtsConnection struggles to bring art to NYC youth amid major citywide budget cuts
Arts education and creative programs are struggling to stay afloat amid major citywide budget cuts. ArtsConnection, an organization dedicated to bringing the arts to NYC youth through in-school, after-school, and community programming, faces its third round of cuts in the last three years.
“Our budgets are shrinking,” said Dionne Thornton, director of teen programs and community engagement for ArtsConnection. “You add increasing student numbers with shrinking budgets, and then the increase in the cost of everything from food to tickets. We are put between a rock and a very hard place in terms of servicing our students to the best of our ability.”
For Thornton, serving students means providing experiences that only become possible through ArtsConnection programming. The organization prides itself on showcasing the variety of art available across the boroughs, especially art that reflects the diversity of its students.
“They need to know that their identity is being expressed creatively around the city and in various ways,” said Thornton. “Providing that opportunity for them to say ‘Okay, I see myself here’ speaks as well to bringing equity inclusion into the conversation, into our curricula, our structure, and whom we hire.”
But decreased funding hinders these efforts and leads to staffing shortages.
“This year, we actually did have to downsize—downsize in the amount of work and also downsize in staff to be able to continue to run, so that has had a significant impact,” said Rachel Watts, executive director of ArtsConnection.
Watts explained that ArtsConnection relies heavily on funding from the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA). During her tenure, however, they have experienced significant budget cuts from the DCA.
Until recently, they also regularly received federal funding, but Watts said they have been unable to secure such funding lately.
“In terms of the government support, there was a significant shift in supporting me as a leader and the organization as a whole,” said Watts.
The lack of government support is forcing ArtsConnection to seek funding elsewhere. Thornton said the organization has been combining budgets across departments and asking for favors from community partners.
“For example, we do community activities with cultural partners like The Shed, where we’re not paying base rental fees that we would otherwise have to pay. That frees up some amount of money,” said Thornton. “There’s a lot of sacrifice across organizations to try to continue to do this work.”
For teaching artists who provide lessons and residencies, funding is crucial for their survival.
“That’s how I make my money,” said Kim Grier-Martinez. “I went from having a roster of schools and teaching to almost not having a roster because of budget cuts.”
While cuts threaten the volume of ArtsConnection’s programming, Watts said the quality remains consistent. She said art offers young people a range of skills that benefit their day-to-day existence, which illustrates the importance of arts education.
“When you practice the arts, you’re learning to problem-solve,” she said. “You’re dealing with ambiguity. You’re learning to work with other people as an ensemble; you’re learning to think and know when to step up and when to step back, and those are valuable skills of being a fully formed human.”
Thornton echoed similar sentiments, looking toward the future of arts education at ArtsConnection and throughout the city in the face of budget cuts. “There isn’t humanity without the arts,” she said. “We are creating space for young people to explore, engage, and connect with the arts. Come hell or high water, we’re going to figure out how to do that.”
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