NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced the launch of a new public-private partnership to bring back the arts across New York.
In what’s being called “New York Arts Revivial,” New York plans to partner with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to launch a “Creatives Rebuild” initiative.
Cuomo says the initiative will put 1,000 artists, who have been impacted by the pandemic, back to work and “will invest in dozens of small arts organizations that make our towns and cities so dynamic.”
Cuomo wants the revival to begin as soon as possible, saying the state cannot wait until the summer to turn the lights back on for arts and artists.
“What is a city without social, cultural and creative synergies? New York City is not New York without Broadway. And with Zoom, many people have learned they can do business from anywhere. Compound the situation with growing crime and homelessness and we have a national urban crisis. We must bring culture and arts back to life,” Cuomo said.
Part of the revival will include pop-up performances beginning next month by comedians, such as Chris Rock and Amy Schumer, and musicians, such as Wynton Marsalis. The events will be held in parks and other outdoor locations.
The revival will culminate with the opening of Little Island at Pier 55, and the 20th anniversary of Tribeca Film Festival in June.
To help bring the art performances back, the governor on Tuesday said he wants to launch rapid testing sites in New York City, and eventually other city centers throughout the state, so that people can receive tests before attending the events.
The governor said he wants partner with the real estate community and work with local governments to reduce bureaucratic hurdles in order to set up the new rapid testing sites.
When Cuomo made the announcement allowing 6,700 fans to attend the Buffalo Bills playoff game, he also said he wanted to find a way to begin reopening venues throughout the state.
Dr. Anthony Fauci says he’d also like to see the reopening of live theater and music venues but, thinks that time will come in the fall – if the kinks in the national vaccine distribution are ironed out.
He says when those venues do reopen, they should require guests to show proof of vaccination and should still require masks.
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