Cuomo puts arts revival in the spotlight

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced plans to bring back live performances, help artists, and fund community arts groups yesterday, as part of his weeklong State of the State address.

Through a new public-private partnership, pop-up performances and events – which will include celebrities like Amy Schumer and Chris Rock – will begin to take place throughout the state starting in early February. Cuomo also highlighted partnerships with arts organizations such as Ballet Hispanico, the Albany Symphony Orchestra and the National Black Theatre.

These events will be held at outdoor sites in state parks and venues like the Park Avenue Armory and the Queens Theatre, as the state explores the efficacy of using large indoor spaces with testing and ventilation. Cuomo highlighted the importance of ramping up the use of rapid tests to make these events more viable, though many forms of rapid testing are more prone to reporting false negatives. 

New York will also launch the Creative Rebuild Initiative in partnership with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, which will put more than 1,000 artists back to work and fund dozens of small-to-midsize community arts organizations. More details will be released over the coming weeks, according to a press release from the foundation.