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Contact: David Johnston, davidj@nycPASpaces.org.
 

NYC Performing Arts Spaces Receives Grant
from New York State Music Fund

$13 million awarded by The New York State Music Fund to
153 nonprofit contemporary music appreciation programs

July 12, 2006
 

(New York, N.Y.) — NYC Performing Arts Spaces announced today that it is the recipient of a grant from The New York State Music Fund ("The Fund") for a project that will investigate how rehearsal, performance and recording facilities and other workspace-related factors affect individual musicians' ability to reach audiences in New York state with contemporary and earlier music. NYC Performing Arts Spaces will partner with government arts agencies, borough arts councils and specialized service organizations across the state to conduct an extensive online survey of musicians in New York State. Using survey results, the nonprofit organization will analyze whether there are workspace-related commonalities for musicians working in New York City, those within a 100-mile radius of NYC, and those elsewhere in the state.

The Research Center for Arts and Culture at Columbia University's Teachers College (RCAC), founded and directed by Joan Jeffri, will be the key consultant for the project. The RCAC has spent 20 years studying individual artists on local, state, national and international platforms. NYC Performing Arts Spaces' report findings will be a catalyst for a networked music community, public and private sector support, and a more focused arts policy.

"Support from The New York State Music Fund will allow us to research and clarify workspace issues that impact a diverse population of musicians throughout the state," says Eugenie C. Cowan, Founder and Director of NYC Performing Arts Spaces. "Among the questions we hope to get answers to are: what financial, language and/or ethnic barriers exist for musicians seeking workspace; how much time must musicians spend traveling to affordable spaces from their work or home; and how the demand for space and the available supply impact musicians?ability to compose and perform."

The New York State Music Fund was created when the New York State Attorney General's Office resolved investigations against major record companies that had violated state and federal laws prohibiting "pay for play" (also called "payola"). The settlement agreement stipulated that funds paid by music businesses would support music education and appreciation for the benefit of New York State residents. The Attorney General's Office enlisted the services of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, one of the nation's largest and most experienced philanthropy services, to develop and manage the grant program.

The New York State Music Fund published guidelines and criteria and accepted grant applications in a number of categories, including music education and public performances of music by artists working in hip hop, reggae, fusion, jazz, classical and folk music of all cultures. Special emphasis was placed on reaching underserved populations and broadening awareness of artists, genres or styles with limited access to commercial broadcast or other mass distribution vehicles. An Advisory Panel comprised of recognized leaders from a cross-section of the music world evaluated and recommended 153 of the 304 applications the Fund received for its first cycle.

Awards to the 153 grantees represent every region of New York State and range from $15,000 to $750,000. Diverse forms of popular or experimental music, including hip-hop, indie rock, fusion and reggae account for about 37 percent of grants and more than 13 percent celebrate a spectrum of jazz; 30 percent include new classical music. The state's ethnic or racial minority communities are served by 45 percent of the programs, while 47 percent target low-income communities. The Fund's size and emphasis on music of our time set it apart from other arts grant programs.

"Since 2001, our NYC Music Spaces website, www.nycMusicSpaces.org, has provided a solution for musicians seeking workspace: a free online database of rehearsal and performance spaces in the five boroughs," says Cowan. "This new research project, yielding data on the space-related needs of the music field, will move us to a new level in our ability to address and solve space problems for musicians statewide. By collaborating with city and state arts agencies and arts organizations on this ambitious survey, we can work to positively impact the greatest number of New York musicians and their audiences."

NYC Performing Arts Spaces is the only organization that focuses solely on resolving performing artists' needs for New York City rehearsal and performance space. Its programs and services are free of charge to both artists seeking space and facilities who have rentable spaces. No membership or registration is required. Its web-based resources are www.nycMusicSpaces.org, www.nycDanceSpaces.org and the forthcoming www.nycTheatreSpaces.org. Details about the organization's history, its current programs and how to support it are available at www.nycPASpaces.org

For more information about NYC Music Spaces, contact David Johnston at davidj@nycPASpaces.org.

NYC MUSIC SPACES: Where Musicians Find Their Space

The NYC Music Spaces program is funded in part by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts; the Amphion, AOH, Christian A. Johnson Endeavor, Avery and Janet Fisher, DJ McManus, and George L. Shields Foundations, and individuals.

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