Bloomberg and NYC Arts: a balancing act - Front Page - Michael R. Bloomberg - Brief Article

Following eight years of legal and philosophical battles with Rudy Giuliani, the New York art world may finally get a break with new mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, who has served on the boards of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Jewish Museum and Lincoln Center in New York, and the Serpentine Gallery in London, and has endowed an art history chair at Johns Hopkins University, where he is also chairman of the board of trustees. Though Bloomberg is taking office at a time of great financial difficulty for the city, his comments on the arts and museum policies--as well as some key appointments--have been promising.

No Fan of Censorship

In early January, Bloomberg was questioned at a press conference about a controversial exhibition opening this month at the Jewish Museum. "Mirroring Evil: Nazi Imagery/Recent Art" explores the use of Nazi and Holocaust imagery in contemporary art. Bloomberg replied "I am opposed to government censorship of any kind. I don't think the government should be in the business of telling museums what is art or what they should exhibit." He went on to say that "if you don't like a museum exhibit, don't go see it." This is a striking change in attitude from Giuliani's threats to cut funding and close the Brooklyn Museum because it displayed "blasphemous" images by Chris Ofili and Renee Cox [see "Front Page," Nov. '99, Apr. '01].

Key Cultural Appointments

Bloomberg's first cultural appointees also seem to bode well for the arts. Kate D. Levin, assistant professor of English and theater at the City College at CUNY, was selected as commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Considered a relative unknown in the art world, Levin has had considerable experience in fund-raising, planning, board development and theatrical production at such institutions as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the New York Theater Company and the Williamstown Theater Festival. She was also special assistant to the cultural affairs commissioner in 1987. The cultural affairs department provides operational support for 600 city museums and cultural institutions and manages the percent-for-art program, among other things. As all city agencies are bracing for funding cuts [see below], her ties to the philanthropic community could be a considerable asset. Levin, who is married to sculptor Mark di Suvero, replaces Schuyler Chapin, a Giuliani appointee who nevertheless, during the "Sensation" controversy, spoke out against the mayor when he tried to cut off the Brooklyn Museum's funding.

Amanda Burden was named chairwoman of the City Planning Commission. Burden has been a member of the commission since 1990. Among other positions, she has held the post of vice president of planning and design at the Battery Park City Authority (which oversaw the selection and placement of public art works) and vice president of architecture and design at the New York State Urban Development Corporation. She serves on the boards of the Architectural League, Creative Time, the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation and the Center for Arts Education. The City Planning Commission is responsible for the physical and socioeconomic planning of the city, which includes land-use and environmental reviews. Currently on its agenda is the possible rezoning of certain areas of Brooklyn that would pave the way for the legalization of loft dwellings, impacting hundreds of artists [see "Front Page," Mar. '01].

Bloomberg also appointed Adrian Benepe as commissioner of the Parks and Recreation Department. He had been Manhattan parks commissioner since 1996, and had earlier served in the department as director of art and antiquities. He was previously vice president for issues and public affairs at the Municipal Art Society, a private watchdog group.

Tough Times Ahead

Though the epic art battles of the Giuliani era may be over, museums still have enormous financial hurdles ahead. Following Sept. 11, Giuliani called for 15-percent budget cuts citywide. In early January, the New York Times reported that Bloomberg's new budget director sent a memo to all city agencies, including the Department of Cultural Affairs, asking for 25-percent cuts in their building plans over the next four years. The cuts will affect both city and private institutions that receive city money for capital projects. The Times quoted an unnamed arts professional who said, "any cultural institution that doesn't have a hole in the ground or a building partly up is going to find itself out of this budget."

Bloomberg's preliminary budget was due on Feb. 14, after this issue went to press. The day following his inauguration, Bloomberg warned the Lincoln Center board that its $1.2-billion redevelopment may have to wait; Giuliani had committed $240 million in city funds to the project. In 1998, Giuliani had pledged $65 million to the Museum of Modern Art's expansion; $35 million has already been received, with the remaining $30 million expected over the next four years. Anticipating the cuts, MOMA is scaling back renovations in nonpublic areas and is considering other ways to cut costs. The Met was awaiting $26.2 million to help double its exhibition space, and the Guggenheim, with its ambitious new downtown facility in the early planning stages, was expecting $24 million.