Arts Performances Take to the Streets

The New York City "Open Culture" program will offer artists of all kinds to move the stage to the street and other public spaces. It's like an open streets program for the arts.

1 minute read

December 11, 2020, 6:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


New York Cuty, New York

Sean Pavone / Shutterstock

The New York City Council approved a bill this week to allow ticket sales for concerts, plays, sketches, and more on city streets and other open spaces, according to an article by Shant Shahrigian.

"Under the legislation from Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Queens), artists and groups that previously received funding from the city Department of Cultural Affairs or one of the five borough-based arts councils will be able to apply online for permits to perform outdoors," writes Shahrigian.

In all, the new legislation will apply to about 2,000 performers and groups.

The name of the city program created by the new law, "Open Culture," harkens to the new public orientation of social life during the pandemic, as exemplified by "open streets" programs in New York City and other cities.

"[Open Culture is] modeled on the city’s popular outdoor-dining and open-streets undertakings and is poised to cast a lifeline to the Big Apple’s arts industry, which has been devastated during the coronavirus outbreak," explains Shahrigian.

Councilmember Bramer is quoted in the article saying, "Cultural groups are back in business," as a result of the new program.

Thursday, December 10, 2020 in New York Daily News

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