On April 28, New York City joined the ranks of Chicago, Houston, and Denver when the city council passed its first, fully comprehensive cultural plan on a vote of 49 to 0. The bill was introduced and championed by city council members Jimmy Van Bramer (Queens) and Stephen Levin (Brooklyn).

Councilmen Van Bramer noted that, as cultural affairs commissioners come and go, “What we want is to have this ongoing prioritization of arts and culture.” The passed legislation will require the city to review its current cultural priorities, research how the city can improve serving its neighborhoods, report the current state of each neighborhood’s arts community, and plan how to assist artists with rising cost of living.

The city will have to work with arts groups in the five boroughs to assess their needs and use their recommendations to release a plan by July 1, 2017. The passed legislation also requires an appointed citizens advisory committee by the mayor, the speaker and the borough presidents. New York City’s cultural plan will seek to dig deeper in “arts education, incorporating culture into community and economic development, and seeking the cooperation of other city agencies.”