Culture and the City

The Fine Arts Federation of New York 2014 Annual Meeting

Monday, October 20, 2014
6:00 p.m.
The National Arts Club
Sculpture Court
15 Gramercy Park South

On October 20, 2014, The Fine Arts Federation hosted a special evening exploring the catalytic impact of culture on New York’s communities. Featured speaker Tom Finkelpearl, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, shared his vision for culture as an expansive and inclusive force shaping the future of the city.

As the nation’s second-largest arts funder (after the federal government), the Department of Cultural Affairs has long made a major contribution to New York’s social, economic, and urban vitality. Now, as Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration broadly seeks to shape a city that is more equitable and responsive to the needs, dreams, and desires of its communities, culture is poised to play an even greater role in enhancing the places where we live, work, and play.

Considering culture’s impact on New York’s public realm, Commissioner Finkelpearl reflected on the power of the arts and design to engage and inspire communities, forge social connections, and contribute to dynamic public spaces that nurture a shared sense of belonging and opportunity.

Pictured: Brooklyn’s Weeksville Heritage Center, completed in 2013 with more than $35 million in capital funding from the City of New York, activates the community’s African-American history through vanguard and experimental programs. / Courtesy Caples Jefferson Architects