Whether you call it a melting pot or a gorgeous mosaic, New York City has always been a place where immigrants pursue their dreams. Nowhere is that truer than among immigrant artists, who use the city as a stage to showcase their creative talent.
In 2019, The Trust helped the Center for an Urban Future document the contribution of foreign-born artists in its December 2020 report, “The Changing Face of Creativity in New York.” The report noted that the city is home to 12 percent of the nation’s immigrant artists and the number of immigrant artists in the city had grown by 69 percent since 1990—more than double the rate of U.S.-born artists. While the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing shutdown caused many hardships for the entire arts sector, small immigrant arts groups were among those hit the hardest, straining their already precarious finances.
The report issued 15 recommendations to improve the viability of immigrant artists and groups; most centered on finding increased funding and making resources—such as performance and rehearsal spaces—more available. The report called for a partnership where tech companies could help these small arts organizations create income-generating virtual programs.
It proposed creating immigrant arts centers in each of the boroughs. In May, Mayor Adams announced that the city will help fund a first-of-its-kind Immigrant Research and Arts Center in Inwood, which will be operated by People’s Theatre Project, an immigrant- and women-of-color-led performing arts organization. The Center will feature music and dance performances, film screenings, family programming, and community events.
The report generated widespread media attention and gave renewed energy to efforts by policymakers. The increased awareness led to several philanthropic and government initiatives to support immigrant artists.
Surveys and analyses like the Center’s can focus the attention of policymakers and have long-term, profound effects long after they are first published. This report crystallized the contributions and needs of immigrant artists, leading to new technology and programming.