Using public data to advance cultural equity, family power, and systems change
New York, NY – Cool Culture is proud to share a new report from the NYC Independent Budget Office (IBO) examining New York City’s public funding for arts and culture over nearly a decade. Commissioned at the request of Cool Culture Executive Director Candice Anderson, this analysis reviews Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) funding trends from FY 2017 through FY 2026, offering a clearer picture of how cultural dollars are allocated — and where inequities persist.
Read the full IBO Painting the Town’s Budget Report here
Cool Culture, Data & Social Change
Public funding decisions play a critical role in shaping who has access to cultural institutions, creative learning, and community-based arts programming across New York City. This IBO Report helps make those decisions more transparent — giving families, advocates, and cultural leaders the data needed to engage in informed civic action.
At Cool Culture, our work is grounded in a Theory of Change that recognizes that: “when families have access to cultural experiences, they build connection, and power — and that power fuels lasting systems change.” Our Parent Power for Cultural Equity (PP4CE) initiative demonstrates how data, storytelling, and lived experience come together to influence policy and funding decisions.
Learn more about our Parent Power for Cultural Equity program, and read the Creative Pathways in Bed-Stuy report today.