From 2016-207, Hester Street partnered with the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, artists, cultural organizations, New York City agencies, arts and culture experts, and community residents to inform the creation of New York City’s first cultural plan. The plan is a roadmap that uses the lens of equity to guide the future of arts and culture in the five boroughs.
Through this process, we engaged nearly 200,000 New Yorkers in 99% of NYC zip codes. HST facilitated 80 tabling events; 30 focus groups; 115 meetings; 6 large workshops; and 40 research events. We collected 10,000 surveys and engaged New Yorkers through a unique website, email list and social media. Resident feedback was incorporated with a broad range of research, data, and mapping into recommendations for sustaining and supporting arts and culture throughout the city.
To support community-based organizations and arts advocates to facilitate community conversations about arts and culture, HST created the CreateNYC Toolkit, including a facilitation guide, introductory presentation, and engagement activities designed to be easily adapted by community-based partners.
- CreateNYC Toolkit for community-based partners
- CreateNYC Toolkit training video