Author: New York State Commission on Cultural Resources

Publication Year: 1971

Media Type: Report

Summary:

Report on public hearings held in Albany, New York (?), March 2 and 3, 1972 by the New York State Commission on Cultural Resources, Senator William T. Conklin, Chairman. The Commission approached these Brooklyn hearings with definite questions in mind. What is: the quantity and quality of the institutions within the borough? the attitude of the public in regard to these institutions? the need of the community for new or different arts or cultural services? the role of public support. the role of private support. the need for architectural consideration, planning and historical preservation in the borough.

Abstract:

Report on public hearings held in Albany, New York (?), March 2 and 3, 1972 by the New York State Commission on Cultural Resources, Senator William T. Conklin, Chairman.

The Commission approached these Brooklyn hearings with definite questions in mind. What is: the quantity and quality of the institutions within the borough? the attitude of the public in regard to these institutions? the need of the community for new or different arts or cultural services? the role of public support. the role of private support. the need for architectural consideration, planning and historical preservation in the borough.

In response, we discovered that the arts in Brooklyn are ubiquitous in their ethnic and racial variety, art form, economic status and social involvement; all united in one common cry, voiced by one of the witnesses, Help me to be!

The cultural resources of Brooklyn range from major professional institutions of national reputation, like the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences and its constituent members, to small neighborhood institutions of semi-professional or amateur standing, like the Alonzo Players, who operate out of the home of Cecil Alonzo without benefit of any public aid whatsoever.

While in combination the wealth of cultural resources in Brooklyn are representative of the cultural resources of the State, we discovered that individually, no single organization is typical or representative of Brooklyn.

Findings: They do, however, share common characteristics. Speaker after speaker reiterated the same assertions: 

• Proximity to Manhattan...in attitudes which its citizens feel are reflected in public and financial support, Brooklyn, despite its size, is regarded as a minor appendage to Manhattan.
  
  
• A dearth of publicity and public attention...Brooklyn has no major newspaper or commercial television franchise and the space and attention it receives from Manhattan-based media is minimal.
  
  
• Severe financial pressure...public need and use of Brooklyn's cultural resources is increasing along with the cost of maintaining programs and operations while government support, both city and state, is severely limited.
  
  
• Intrinsic community value...of the nearly 100 organizations represented at the hearings none were simply involved in the arts for art's sake. At all levels, the cultural resources of Brooklyn are vitally involved in the quality of life within the borough.
  
  
• Diffusion of effort...all institutions reported that time and effort must be concentrated on surviving, diverting attention from the real artistic and cultural purposes.
  
  
• Need for greater self-determination..large and small institutions alike complained that government support...City, State and Federal...is often provided for specific programs or activities that are not desired or do not need aid, while more basic areas, like maintenance, or programs of particular interest to the people, go begging.
  
  
• The value of the Brooklyn Arts & Culture Association, Inc...working directly in all of Brooklyn, it continually sparks the creation of neighborhood art-involvement organizations, all of them underscoring the community's awakening to the vast value of indigenous art and culture in pride, growth and involvement. BACA is also in the position to interlock cultural programming, consultation and inter-neighborhood understanding and participation. It is the BACA concept to merge community cultural activity with professional borough and city-wide events. The success of this idea is attested to by the scores of statements related to BACA at the hearings.

We spent two days listening to speakers on behalf of the arts in Brooklyn and then read the submitted statements of many more who were unable to attend. These were all people with something to say. They had a common cause and concern and they were speaking in concert for greater support...for a portion of their lives.

Arts & Intersections:

Categories: Legislation, Funding