MAYOR BLOOMBERG PROPOSES $155 MILLION FOR DCA

On April 26, Mayor Michael Rx. Bloomberg presented the Executive Budget for FY08, which begins July 1. The mayor proposes $155 million for the Department of Cultural Affairs (out of a total City budget of $59 billion). This is a $3 million increase from the FY07 Adopted Budget of $152 million for DCA. It also includes a four percent reduction imposed on all City agencies' budgets in FY08.

DCA BUDGET HEARING

A joint hearing of the Finance and Cultural Affairs Committees on the Executive Budget for the Department of Cultural Affairs took place on May 14 at City Hall. In her testimony, Commissioner Kate D. Levin reported that by the March 26 deadline, DCA received 1,074 applications from cultural organizations throughout the five boroughs. This represents a 22 percent increase over FY07's total application pool, and a 60.5 percent increase since the Bloomberg administration came into office.

DIA ART FOUNDATION COLLABORATES WITH THE HISPANIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Dia Art Foundation announces its partnership with the Hispanic Society of America to showcase a series of projects by contemporary artists at the society's Beaux-Arts facility on Broadway at 155th Street. Commencing in the fall of 2007, this three-year collaboration intends to integrate and expand the audiences of each respective institution.

SCHOMBURG CELEBRATES RENOVATIONS
On May 12, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture reopened after a two-year, $11 million renovation.

NEWS AT THE ALLIANCE

NYC ARTS SUMMER CALENDAR

For the 12th consecutive year, the Alliance for the Arts has published the NYC ARTS summer calendar online at NYC-ARTS.org. Nearly 500 events throughout the city cover the great, the rare, the new and the amazing range of New York's vibrant cultural life--from Memorial Day to mid-September. More events are added each day so that New Yorkers and visitors can stay up-to-date with the places to go and things to see all around the city this summer.

PEOPLE

Teresa Eyring has been appointed the new executive director of the Theatre Communications Group. Ms. Eyring was previously the managing director of the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis.

Jean Tatge has assumed the position of chief operating officer at the Municipal Art Society where she was previously the vice president of Development and External Affairs.

CALENDAR

MAKING SENSE OF CENSORSHIP FORUM AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Teacher's College at Columbia University will host the forum "Making Sense of Censorship: Artistic, Social and Legal Perspectives" to examine censorship and freedom of expression in the arts and culture. The forum takes place May 5 through 30 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6:40 to 9:30 pm at the Center for Educational Outreach and Innovation. For more information or to register, call (800) 209-1245.