At an event this morning at the Bushwick Starr in Brooklyn, New York State Assembly Member Robert Carroll and Senator Julia Salazar announced that they are introducing the New York City Arts Space Act. In response to rising rent in NYC, which is making it harder for artists and companies to find spaces to present their work, this bill hopes to encourage the creation of affordable arts spaces.

The bill was created in close collaboration with IndieSpace, an organization that supports small theatres and artists.

"Post-pandemic we have seen many arts and culture spaces close, and for those that remain, the cost of rehearsal and performance space has skyrocketed, making it unaffordable for smaller arts organizations to produce their work,” said Randi Berry, executive director of IndieSpace, in a statement. “Our hope is that the New York City Arts Space Act will help to make more arts spaces accessible to indie theatre makers, at a lower cost, allowing our community to thrive.”

In the bill, any building that is converted from commercial to residential use, under the state's Affordable Housing from Commercial Conversions Program, will qualify for a property tax exemption if they include affordable arts spaces in the building.

Said Senator Salazar in a statement: "The New York City Arts Space Act recognizes that community arts organizations, affordable housing and development are all interconnected in our city. Through this bill, we can ensure that the fine arts are accessible to artists and patrons in all parts of New York and give non-profit arts organizations the stability to thrive. I look forward to working with Assembly Member Carroll and this vibrant coalition to get the New York City Arts Space Act passed this session.”

Leaders from Dance/NYC, the Bushwick Starr, New Yorkers for Culture and Arts, and League of Independent Theater have expressed their support for the bill. 

“Space is a critical and chronic need for the nonprofit arts and culture sector,” said Lucy Sexton, executive director of New Yorkers for Culture and Arts, in a statement. “Nonprofits are consistently displaced as the neighborhoods they helped to thrive become unaffordable. This bill would provide a sustainable path to keep arts and culture in our communities and in our city. The tax break incentivizing reduced rent and long-term leases for nonprofit arts and culture groups is an investment that will pay off many times over. Not only will it retain community cohesion and heritage, it will stabilize the foundation of our creative economy—a sector that generates 13% of the city's economic activity!”