New York City Department of Cultural Affairs

New York City Department of Cultural Affairs The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to supporting and strengthening New York City's vibrant cultural life.
(6)

Among our primary missions is to ensure adequate public funding for non-profit cultural organizations, both large and small, throughout the five boroughs. DCLA also works to promote and advocate for quality arts programming and to articulate the contribution made by the cultural community to the City's economic vitality. The Department represents and serves non-profit cultural organizations involv

ed in the visual, literary and performing arts; public-oriented science and humanities institutions including zoos, botanical gardens and historic and preservation societies; and creative artists at all skill levels who live and work within the City's five boroughs. Through its Materials for the Arts Program, DCLA provides free supplies for use in arts programs offered by non-profit groups and New York City public schools. DCLA has also changed the physical landscape of New York City through its Percent for Art program by commissioning more than 180 works of art by some of the world's leading artists at public building sites throughout the city.

The Douglaston-Little Neck Library is turning the page on an exciting new $40 million, city-funded chapter! đŸȘđŸ“šYesterday,...
07/28/2026

The Douglaston-Little Neck Library is turning the page on an exciting new $40 million, city-funded chapter! đŸȘđŸ“š

Yesterday, , , and local leaders broke ground on the construction project to upgrade the Douglaston-Little Neck Library. The library’s new building will double existing public space and include permanent public artwork by artist Misha Kahn (mishakahn) commissioned by ’s program.

The existing library, which opened in 1962, will be replaced by a state-of-the-art, 12,000-square-foot, sustainably designed facility with two stories plus a lower level and outdoor terrace, providing significantly more space for library services, educational programming, and community gatherings.

Artist Misha Kahn’s installation “A Bit of Everything” was inspired by his childhood visits to his local public library, where unexpected books, stories, and discoveries made the library a place of imagination, learning, and community. The piece will consist of a collection of unique forms—some inspired by the Douglaston-Little Neck neighborhood. These elements include dumpling-shaped forms referencing the area’s Asian communities, boulder figures inspired by the Matinecock tribe, and train track motifs reflecting the Long Island Rail Road, a defining neighborhood landmark.

“Our libraries are important community hubs where New Yorkers can connect, learn, and participate more fully in our society. Misha Kahn’s ‘A Bit of Everything’ is both playful and profound, exploring the magic of libraries in a way that reflects the wider communities this new civic space will serve.” — NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Diya Vij

The project was funded through capital investments from the offices of NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, NYC Council Member Vickie Paladino, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., and New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, and is currently expected to reopen in summer 2030.



đŸ“·:

1. Photo by Matthew Lapiska / NYC DDC.
2, 4, 5. “A Bit of Everything” by Misha Kahn renderings.
3, 6-8. Douglaston-Little Neck Library renderings.

What happens when we invite young people in detention to reimagine their surroundings, beyond their current reality? Las...
07/24/2026

What happens when we invite young people in detention to reimagine their surroundings, beyond their current reality?

Last week, the Center for Art & Advocacy opened the Youth Art Space, a pop-up gallery curated by artist , as part of their “Keeping Community” exhibition. The space showcases artwork created by youth at the Crossroads Juvenile Center in Brownsville, Brooklyn, through workshops led by teaching artists from and the Crossroads Art Club, including Immanuel Oni as part of his residency with the Administration for Children’s Services () through ’s Public Artist in Residence ( ) program. The resulting exhibition shows how art can expand the imagined possibilities for youth, expanding their hopes and dreams.

At the heart of the Youth Art Space is “When God is Touching You” (slide 7), a photograph taken by a youth resident at the juvenile center of another youth leaping into the air and ascending beyond the frame. This striking image suggests hope, resilience, and the possibilities of life outside of confinement.

Workshops led by Oni feature a series of architectural drawings and models that invited youth to imagine their current space, their ideal room, and the environments they hope to inhabit in the future. Through drawing, model-making, 3D scanning, and material exploration, the project encouraged youth to envision possibilities outside of detention. Mirrored surfaces invite viewers to see themselves alongside the work, creating a dialogue between detained youth and the broader public.

The Youth Art Space is one of three collaborations within the “Keeping Community” series. On view at the Center for Art and Advocacy through September 25, 2026, “Keeping Community” also features a Reading Room curated by Sojourners for Justice Press with rare books and VHS tapes, and a Listening Room curated by FREER Records that engages the history of music created by formerly incarcerated artists.



đŸ“·:

1, 3, 6, 8. Photos by Itzel Alejandra Martinez.
2, 4, 11, 13. Photos by Ruvan Wijesooriya.
5, 9, 12. Courtesy of NYC ACS.
7. “When God is Touching You” by TH.
10. “Helping Hands” by L.

📱 It’s your last chance to apply for these New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Civic Corps job opportunities! A...
07/24/2026

📱 It’s your last chance to apply for these New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Civic Corps job opportunities! Applications for the September 2026–June 2027 service term are due this Sunday, July 26.

Whether you’re a recent graduate or switching careers, if you are passionate about community engagement, public service, and making a difference in New York City, consider applying. The Department of Cultural Affairs has NYC Civic Corps opportunities in four areas of the agency:

✔ Create in Place
✔ External Affairs
✔ Materials for the Arts
✔ Percent for Art

NYC Civic Corps is a 10-month, full-time national service program, presented by AmeriCorps and NYC Service, that places members at City agencies and nonprofit organizations across the five boroughs.

Members gain hands-on professional experience, build valuable leadership skills, and make a lasting impact while serving NYC communities. Civic Corps members receive a $24,500 stipend, an education award of more than $5,000, and access to professional development training and ongoing support.

Check out the job descriptions for these opportunities:

Create in Place: bit.ly/4whkKWT
External Affairs: bit.ly/3TksCbF
Materials for the Arts: bit.ly/4vPdqRr
Percent for Art: bit.ly/4x1tT5X

👉 Apply: nycservice.org/national_service

One of our favorite moments from this year’s World Cup was joining Mayor Mamdani, shelter residents, and staff for a wat...
07/21/2026

One of our favorite moments from this year’s World Cup was joining Mayor Mamdani, shelter residents, and staff for a watch party at the Bruckner Asylum Seeker Shelter, where our Commissioner Diya Vij took in the France vs. Senegal match and learned how the World Cup is inspiring artists in their work to foster community and connection.

Through ’s Public Artist in Residence ( ) program, artist Mauricio Higuera (A-Museum) has been embedded within the Bruckner shelter through the Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations, leading art clubs and guided drawing workshops as an outlet for creative expression to serve the shelter’s 2,200 adult men.

Through Higuera’s workshops, shelter resident Hassan Abdraman designed a World Cup t-shirt celebrating his new home, New York City. Hassan gifted shirts to attendees, including one for the Mayor. His designs, along with artwork created by fellow residents, have been incorporated into temporary installations throughout the shelter.



đŸ“·: Mayoral Photography Office and DCLA.

It’s , NYC! Marking the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), July is a time to celebrate Disabilit...
07/18/2026

It’s , NYC! Marking the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), July is a time to celebrate Disability Pride by honoring the history, culture, achievements, and lived experiences of the Disability community. Throughout the month, cultural organizations are hosting programs that go beyond the ADA’s legacy to show what it means to make our city more inclusive and welcoming for all.

welcomes for an art workshop through the lens of Disability Pride on Sunday, July 19 from 10:30am - 12pm.

offers an American Sign Language-led tour exploring the newly opened “Design Across Time” exhibition on Tuesday, July 21 from 5:30-8:30pm.

hosts a creative workshop inviting the public to create a community Disability Pride Flag with on Thursday, July 23 from 6-7pm.

’s Melrose Library celebrates Disability Pride with a reading party highlighting books by authors with disabilities on Saturday, July 25 from 3-4pm.

partners with the Staten Island Borough President’s Office for a Disability Pride celebration at the College of Staten Island with live performances and accessibility resources on Monday, July 27 from 9:30am - 2pm.

presents an art exhibition sharing artwork by artists and stories from the rare disease and disability communities, on view through August 14, with a celebration on Wednesday, July 29 from 5-8pm.

hosts SqueekyFest, the first-ever multi-city comedy festival for comedians with disabilities, on Wednesday, July 29 at 7:30pm.

teams up with for Disability Pride Night with musical performances and a Q&A on Wednesday, July 29 from 7:30-9pm.

welcomes families and children to find calm in their sensory room, offering a soothing space for children on select dates. Join them on Friday, July 31 from 2-4pm.

provides artmaking with assistive listening devices, sighted guides, verbal description, ear defenders, fidgets, and adaptive art materials on select Sundays, including Sunday, July 19 and Sunday, July 26 from 12-4pm.

When artist Julia Weist (Julia Weist) became a licensed private investigator, she wasn’t preparing to solve crimes—she w...
07/17/2026

When artist Julia Weist (Julia Weist) became a licensed private investigator, she wasn’t preparing to solve crimes—she was expanding her artistic practice.

From 2019 to 2020, Weist worked alongside the NYC Department of Records and Information Services (NYC Department of Records) through ’s Public Artist in Residence ( ) program, where her curiosity about and engagement with public archives and research processes generated “Public Record,” a series of photographic prints that required the use of the city’s public record protocols to access the art. Now, she’s transformed her archival and private investigation experience into “Questioning,” a new play at the New Theater in Los Angeles.

Inspired by a government inquiry when she was confronted about her use of a private investigator’s license for artistic research, “Questioning” reenacts the real-life interview that examined the boundaries between art, investigation, and public records. The play invites audiences to consider who gets to define expertise, what counts as research, and how artists challenge the systems that shape public life.

Visit the link in ’s bio to read Carolina A. Miranda’s the full article in the .

Mayor Mamdani has announced that NYC is bringing 12 community murals to parks across the five boroughs to celebrate NYC'...
07/17/2026

Mayor Mamdani has announced that NYC is bringing 12 community murals to parks across the five boroughs to celebrate NYC's creativity, culture, and the 2026 World Cup. New Yorkers can join Groundswell Community Mural Project for community paint days at each site.

“New York City is alive with the spirit of the World Cup—neighbors living here for generations alongside newer New Yorkers from countries around the world are coming together to celebrate, and these murals will illustrate this unique moment in our city.” — NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Diya Vij
https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/new-york-mamdani-citywide-mural-project-fifa-world-cup-1234792028/

The excitement for the World Cup can be felt across our city, everywhere from family-run restaurants and immigrant-owned...
07/14/2026

The excitement for the World Cup can be felt across our city, everywhere from family-run restaurants and immigrant-owned cafĂ©s to community parks and cultural centers. As the tournament builds to its finale in the days ahead, New York’s cultural organizations are offering up opportunities to enjoy every last minute of this once-in-a-generation event:

celebrates with a semifinal watch party in collaboration with Studio Bar on Tuesday, July 14 at 3pm.

celebrates the World Cup in the world’s borough with live performances at Corona Plaza on Wednesday, July 15 from 1:30–2:30pm.

presents a dance and movement workshop with soccer champion Nick Seyda and Broadway star John Manzari on Saturday, July 18 at 11am.

hosts the World Cup Bronze Final Watch Party, inviting the public to gather on the South Meadow Lawn with a free soccer clinic for kids on Saturday, July 18 at 2pm.

invites visitors to its World Cup watch party with a DJ and activities for all ages on Sunday, July 19 from 1–7pm.

welcomes the public for a final World Cup watch party with face painting, music, and games on Sunday, July 19 from 2–6pm.

celebrates the World Cup through a display of global plants from participating countries, through Sunday, July 19.

showcases “FIFA World Cup 2026 Comes to Life,” an exhibition exploring the rise of soccer, on view through July 26, 2026.

presents “Pitch Black: Haiti and Congo Revisited,” an exhibition that uses the 1974 World Cup as a window into Black diasporan identity, on view through October 11, 2026.

invites the public to make their own soccer animation at interactive animation stations in the museum’s core “Behind the Screen” exhibition, ongoing.

partners with cultural organizations and small businesses to present the NYC Neighborhood Passport, a citywide cultural scavenger hunt highlighting the diversity of NYC. Learn more at the link in our bio.

If you’re a fan of:Free admission to museumsLive performancesActivities for all agesWell have we got good news for you: ...
07/09/2026

If you’re a fan of:

Free admission to museums
Live performances
Activities for all ages

Well have we got good news for you: is BACK from July 10-12 for three, jam-packed days of arts and culture across Manhattan’s West Side. Enjoy free admission to participating museums and cultural institutions, as well as special indoor and outdoor programming, artmaking, workshops, music, and more for all ages.

Organized by the West Side Cultural Network and presented with , participating organizations include , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and .⁠

âžĄïž Explore the full schedule of events and plan your visit at WestSideFest.nyc.



đŸ“·: Photos by Filip Wolak.

This Fourth of July, New Yorkers are reflecting on our nation’s past, present, and future during the 250th anniversary o...
07/03/2026

This Fourth of July, New Yorkers are reflecting on our nation’s past, present, and future during the 250th anniversary of the United States. Cultural organizations across the five boroughs are marking this milestone with opportunities to celebrate, learn, and explore the complexity of the American story through exhibitions, performances, concerts, screenings, and other programs.

presents a dynamic performance by the Brooklyn United Marching Band as part of the museum’s 250th anniversary programming on Saturday, July 4 at 12pm.

welcomes the public for an open house. Explore “Path to Liberty: The Emergence of a Nation” and attend the “It Happened Here” lecture on Saturday, July 4 from 12 - 5pm.

hosts the Staten Island Philharmonic for a tribute to the Declaration of Independence and the Statue of Liberty on Saturday, July 4 from 6–7:30pm.

presents CATCH 5th of July Weekend Spectacular!, an unruly day of games and performance exploring the complexities of American history and what to do about it, on Sunday, July 5 from 1:30–8pm.

screens “Salt of the Earth” as part of the 250th anniversary program highlighting films centered on historically marginalized perspectives on Sunday, July 5 at 12:30pm.

presents “The Bicentennial Revisited: The Spirit of ’76?,” exploring interpretations of the 1976 bicentennial, on view through July 11, 2026.

hosts an “America 250: The Bronx” webinar exploring the Bronx’s role in the American Revolution on Monday, July 20 at 7pm.

shares a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence on view through September 13, 2026.

presents “Drawing America: US@250,” spotlighting “Common Sense” and “Donald Moffett: Impeach,” on view through 2026 and 2027.



đŸ“·:

1. Photo by Julie Schaer / NYC Tourism.
2. Meaghan Robichaud at CATCH 77. Photo by Sam Leon.
3. Brooklyn United Marching Band, courtesy of the artist.
4. Donald Moffett. “US.,” 2026. Vinyl wall mural. Courtesy Alexander Gray Associates, New York; Anthony Meier, Mill Valley. © Donald Moffett, 2026. Photo by Paula Abreu Pita.

Address

31 Chambers Street
New York, NY
10007

Telephone

+12125139300

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when New York City Department of Cultural Affairs posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category