Dear New Yorker:

I am writing with enthusiasm to report on the Department of Cultural Affairs' (DCA) FY 2014 expense budget.

The DCA begins the fiscal year with an expense budget of $156.1 million. For FY14, $32.2 million is allocated to Programs groups, $113.7 million to the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG), and $5.1 million is allocated to the Cultural After School Program (CASA). These figures include member item allocations.

This budget represents a tremendous increase from preliminary FY 2014 figures and exceeds FY 2013 levels. It is a powerful sign of support from an administration and City Council which understand the importance of NYC dance - over 5,000 dancers and 1,200 dance makers and companies - 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. Also, see our NEW YORKERS FOR DANCE campaign featuring personal statements from New Yorkers on why dance matters to the City, and read more in The New York Times' piece, "Bringing New York City Dance Into the Limelight."

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 and the team at Dance/NYC

Lane Harwell,
Executive Director