I hope you’ll take a moment to read the information below! Many thanks to Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl, New York City School Chancellor Carmen Fariña and all of our friends at the New York City Council including Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer, Chair of the Committee on Libraries, Cultural Affairs and International Intergroup Relations, and Council Member Daniel Dromm, Chair of the Committee on Education for prioritizing funding for arts education in the recently approved budget for New York City’s 2015 Fiscal Year. Their advocacy resulted in $23 million in new City funding dedicated to increasing access to the arts in NYC public schools through professional development, hiring additional arts teachers and expanding opportunities for cultural partners to work with public schools.

In addition, we thank the NYC Council for their leadership in expanding the Cultural After School Adventure (CASA) program by providing funding for cultural partnerships at over 100 additional New York City schools in the 2014-2015 school year. And a special shout out to Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer for releasing the Arts Forward report, which played an important role in advocating for the $23 million included in this year’s budget for arts education and for hosting an upcoming opportunity for arts leaders to meet with educators who very much want and need our support at an Arts & Education Mixer at El Museo.

We understand that many of you are endeavoring to secure FY15 CASA funding from theNYC Council for cultural programming at NYC public schools. We understand that NYC Council Finance has asked each Council Member to submit a list of the seven cultural organizations that have been selected to partner with schools in their Council District by September 17. Each cultural organization selected will receive $20K through the CASA initiative for programming at the partnering schools. It is anticipated that the Council will officially approve CASA funding allocations at the Stated Meeting currently scheduled for Tuesday, September 23. Please note, these dates are not official and are subject to change or extension. We will keep you apprised of any new or updated information we receive

If you have any further questions regarding the Arts Mixer or CASA funding, please let us

know.

II. MANHATTAN BOROUGH PRESIDENT ARTS AND EDUCATION MIXER

On September 30th, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer will host an Arts Mixer at el Museo del Barrio (1230 Fifth Avenue) from 4pm-6pm. The Borough President is hosting this event to encourage partnerships between public schools in Manhattan and cultural organizations. All cultural organizations are welcome to attend, as are Manhattan public school teachers and administrators. Your organization can RSVP for this event by calling (212) 669-4039. RSVPs are requested.