Dear New Yorker:

I write with enthusiasm to report on the Department of Cultural Affairs' (DCA) FY 2013 expense budget.

DCA begins the fiscal year on July 1, 2013 with an expense budget of $155.6 million. This includes $32 million allocated to programs and $113.6 million to the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG). Both the programs and CIG figures include member item allocations.

This budget represents a remarkable increase from preliminary FY 2013 figures as well as growth over the FY 2012 adopted budget. It is a tremendous sign of support from an administration and City Council which understand the importance of NYC dance-over 5,000 dancers and 1,200 dance making entities-to the city's creative life, economy, and social health.

Thank you for joining Dance/NYC in advocating for this budget. Read Dance/NYC's budget testimony and our ongoing research helping to make the case for City funds and strategic policy development.

Please also join Dance/NYC in thanking New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Cultural Affairs Committee Chair Jimmy Van Bramer, Finance Chair Domenic Recchia and your City Councilmember for the Council's work on this difficult budget. And thank you to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Commissioner Kate D. Levin for their leadership and all they do for dance and culture.

Visit the New York City Arts Coalition and DanceNYC.org for regular advocacy updates.

Onward for dance!


Lane Harwell
Director
Dance/NYC
@flashlane