Creatives Rebuild New York

01/09/2026

Please join!

07/01/2025

On our final day as an organization, CRNY is thrilled to announce Voices for Creative New York, a statewide culture and arts advocacy coalition that brings together arts advocates across discipline and geography to champion the creative workforce and the health of our arts ecosystem across New York State. Voices for Creative New York will be co-led by five nonprofit organizations with deep commitments and networks among New York’s myriad arts communities: ArtsNYS, Black Artist Collective CNY, Culture and Arts Policy Institute, Freelancers Union, and New Yorkers for Culture and the Arts.

The effort will be administered by New Yorkers for Culture and Arts, with dedicated funds for the partner organizations to support participation by individual artists, statewide data collection, ongoing communications with the field, and a co-governance committee.

This announcement follows an 18-month participatory process led by Creatives Rebuild New York with support from HR&A Advisors, in which artists, arts service organizations, and arts advocacy groups across the state were engaged to help shape this collaboration. This process, all participants, and key recommendations are summarized in the report “Voices for Creative New York Blueprint,” which also lays out ways for local and regional funders to support the initiative.

Read full press release here: https://www.creativesrebuildny.org/policy/advocacy/voices-for-creative-new-york/

Stay tuned for more.

Slide 1 photo: Liz Lane of ArtsNYS, Mauricio Delfin of Culture & Arts Policy Institute, Martikah S. Williams of Black Artist Collective CNY, Rafael Espinal of Freelancers Union, Cjala Surratt of Black Artist Collective CNY, Gonzalo Casals of Culture & Arts Policy Institute, Lucy Sexton of New Yorkers for Culture & Arts

06/27/2025

To the artists, creative and cultural workers, culture bearers, culture makers, movement leaders, community members, arts advocates, and New Yorkers who have followed along on our journey as an organization: we thank you and we believe in you, your artistry, your labor, and your unconditional, fundamental rights to financial stability, security, and access to employment and care.

While CRNY has now closed, the work and ethics that we champion are far from over.

We hope you’ll follow along as the work and mission of CRNY live on by way of our partners at The New York State Cash Alliance and Voices for Creative New York—and that you’ll explore and share our new AEP toolkit hosted by Springboard for the Arts’ Creative Exchange. An archive of CRNY’s work and data will be hosted by City Lore in the future.

This Monday, June 30, we’ll be announcing further details about Voices for Creative New York and the future of their work, and we hope you’ll follow along!

We also encourage you to peruse our archival website to learn about our history, programs, research, storytelling, and policy & advocacy efforts—and to read Executive Director Sarah Calderón’s final sign-off “Roadmap to an Imagined Future.”

In 2025, as we find ourselves in a collective state of uncertainty wherein many of our communities are under extreme threat, we must remember: New York isn’t New York without artists.

Photo credit: Quazi King—Art Takes Work campaign

06/27/2025

In our last week as an organization, we’re thrilled to announce the publication of the Artist Employment Program Toolkit, a 'how-to' guide and resource for artists, organizations, communities, cities, counties, and states, who are interested in setting up a program to employ multiple artists in salaried positions with organizations or government agencies. It represents a synthesis of a working group of artist employment efforts from around the United States, including Creatives Rebuild New York, Artists at Work, Maniobra, Cross-sector Artists in Residence Lab, Seattle Hope Corps, KDA Creative Corps, Far South Border North, and 18th Street Arts.

This toolkit is an outgrowth of the recommendations from CRNY’s Artist Employment Program working group, where several participants noted that it would be useful to have a consolidated resource that highlights the common themes and different approaches to implementing employment programs for artists.

The PDF toolkit is part of Springboard for the Arts’ Creative Exchange platform, and an accessible HTML version is available on CRNY’s website.

Developed by Creatives Rebuild New York, the Artist Employment Program Toolkit is intended as a ‘how-to’ guide and resource for artists, organizations, communities, cities, counties, and states, wh…

05/12/2025

Associate professor of philosophy and founder of the Stanford Basic Income Lab Juliana Bidadanure reflects on the state of basic income experiments amidst our current political landscape and, citing our recent findings, makes the case for a bold paradigm shift that prioritizes cash programs.

"We need to establish an unconditional right to an income to help us build a more humane society," says Bidadanure, "where no one is relegated to a life of poverty and no one has to grow up with the looming threat that they could one day be left with nothing to survive."

Artists contribute to the well-being of our communities. It’s time to give them a basic income.

04/21/2025

Later this month, join Grantmakers in the Arts for a virtual webinar with Chicago Dancemakers Forum , 3Arts, Threewalls, and Roman Susan about how arts nonprofits can balance transparency and pay equity for artists!

Learn more and register: https://ow.ly/xIYM50VwOJ1

04/08/2025

Tomorrow! Wednesday, April 9, 2025 from 6:00-8:00pm Eastern.

Featuring CRNY's Maura Cuffie-Peterson 🎉

Can artists survive in New York City? The 10th anniversary Lillian Wald Symposium explores this question on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 6 p.m. at Abrons Arts Center.

Named for Henry Street’s founder, the Lillian Wald Symposium is a free gathering that fosters discussions of the most pressing issues of our time. This year’s panel will examine whether New York City can remain a magnet and incubator for creativity across the visual and performing arts at a time when affordable living/working space and access to resources continue to shrink. Panelists will reflect on the Lower East Side and NYC’s long history as a haven for artists and explore what is needed to sustain a culture of creativity today.

This event is free and open to the public, but you must RSVP. ADA seating and ASL interpretation provided. Register now at HenryStreet.org/Symposium

The Cooper Union will hold a companion event, Lillian Wald Humanities Long Table, on Tuesday, April 8, from noon to 2 p.m. More details at https://cooper.libcal.com/event/14272058

04/08/2025

Huge congratulations to Neglakay Productions for their outstanding work and artistry on our campaign, which have earned them a 2025 Webby Honoree nomination! To watch the film, learn more, and take action, visit www.ArtTakesWork.com .

04/04/2025

"Applications for Artspace Utica Lofts are now available and must be submitted by May 3. A housing lottery to determine the order of the waitlist for residency at Artspace Utica Lofts will take place on May 19 at 11 a.m."

Tucked away conveniently behind the Stanley Theatre and just blocks away from Munson is Artspace Utica Lofts, an affordable housing community designed specifically for artists and families.

04/04/2025

Check out the upcoming webinar "Beyond a Labor of Love" from Grantmakers in the Arts on Tuesday, April 29th, 2025 at 2:00pm Eastern!

**GIA WEBINAR**

💝Beyond a Labor of Love💝

How can arts organizations move beyond W.A.G.E. certification to foster a world where artists are supported holistically, equitably, and transparently? This session will explore actionable, intersectional strategies to ensure artists' financial sustainability and overall well-being. Attendees will gain practical tools to implement pay equity, transparent funding models, and human-centered policies that help artists thrive—not just survive.

Meet our guest speaker, Joanna Furnans!

Joanna is the current Executive Director of Chicago Dancemakers Forum. She brings a multifaceted perspective as a dance artist, writer, and administrator with a deep commitment to artist advocacy and sustainable arts funding. Her work has been supported by institutions such as the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, and the Walker Art Center. A former Chicago Dancemakers Forum Lab Artist Awardee, she now leads the organization, supporting the next generation of dance artists through funding and mentorship. Joanna is also a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP) and holds a certificate in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations from Northwestern University, equipping her with expertise in nonprofit leadership and financial sustainability.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from Joanna and other arts leaders working to transform how artists are valued and supported in today’s arts ecosystem.

Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/4c5QGEv

04/04/2025

Join New Yorkers for Culture & Arts this Saturday, April 5th, 2025 at 12:30pm for a rally calling to reinstate National Endowment for the Arts, National Endowment for the Humanities, and Institute of Museum and Library Services!

04/03/2025

YoungArts is a great resource for young artists!

"At YoungArts, we believe financial knowledge is a vital component of an artistic career.

Too often, artists are encouraged to pursue their practice without understanding the business aspects of their craft. The harmful myths that talent alone ensures success and that passion, dedication and sacrifice are enough to sustain a practice have been perpetuated for far too long.

Artist Resource Collective (ARC) seeks to change this narrative. ARC is a new, artist-designed and artist-led program that equips artists with essential financial tools and knowledge."

The National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists