New York Isn’t New York Without Artists is a policy playbook commissioned by CRNY and authored by HR&A Advisors following a year-long process of engaging policymakers, artists, and organizers across New York State. It is intended to be a long-term, step-by-step program for lawmakers at all levels of government to reference as they enact policies that empower artists, a labor force integral to the state’s economy but one that is often on the edge of hardship and economic uncertainty. Artists and creative workers require additional resources and labor protections to continue working and serving communities statewide, and improved policy can help to improve conditions for all workers in the state.
This range is intentionally expansive, inviting policymakers to consider creative workers not only as critical constituents but also as central to New York’s identity and economy. Scroll through the recommendations below, or download the full Policy Playbook for details on how artists, advocates, and municipal and state lawmakers can come together to support New York’s creative workforce.
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Housing and Financial Security Policies
1. Ensure strong tenant protections and anti-displacement measures are part of the New York Housing Compact
2. Incentivize the development of affordable housing in cultural districts across New York State
3. Pass the New York State Working Families Tax Credit
4. Create a statewide guaranteed income program
Labor Policies
5. Pass critical worker protection laws for non-traditional workers
6. Expand eligibility, enforcement, and effective implementation of the Freelance Isn’t Free Act
7. Establish a grant program to fund portable benefits pilot programs and financial security tools for creative workers
Workforce Development Policies
8. Create artist employment programs to address environmental, health, and safety needs in communities
9. Develop training programs to increase access to fast-growing creative industry jobs
10. Expand accessible internship and apprenticeship opportunities within cultural institutions
11. Conduct a biennial census of creative workers in New York
Economic Development Policies
12. Increase public funding for economic development projects that integrate arts and culture
13. Invest in the capacity of Community Development Financial Institutions to expand access to capital for arts organizations and creative entrepreneurs
14. Expand navigation support to identify resources for creative and cultural spaces at risk of displacement
Arts and Culture Policies
15. Legislate prevailing wage standards for artists working on publicly-funded arts and culture projects
16. Scale up direct, flexible, and equitable public funding for individual artists, culture-bearers, and creative workers
17. Increase public funding for culturally diverse arts and culture organizations
18. Reform tax policy to create dedicated revenue for arts and culture
Cross Cutting Strategy
19. Form an intergovernmental working group charged with developing a statewide Creative Economy Strategic Plan
