The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is the department of the government of New York CityNew York City Charter § 2501; "There shall be a department of cultural affairs, the head of which shall be the commissioner of cultural affairs." dedicated to supporting New York City's cultural life. Among its primary missions is ensuring adequate public funding for non-profit cultural organizations throughout the five boroughs. The Department represents and serves non-profit cultural organizations involved in the visual, literary and performing arts; public-oriented science and humanities institutions including zoos, botanical gardens and historic and preservation societies; and creative artists who live and work within the City's five boroughs.
The Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA), which prefigured the contemporary DCLA, was created in 1962 by Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. In 1976, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs was established as a separate city agency, headed by the Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, who is appointed by the Mayor.
Its programs include Materials for the Arts, a large facility in Long Island City that distributes free reused supplies to arts organizations (in partnership with the New York City Department of Sanitation). Its regulations are compiled in Title 58 of the New York City Rules.
Commissioners Cultural Affairs Commissioner Years in Office Appointed by1Doris Chanin Freedman1967-1970John Lindsay 2 H. Claude Shostal 1976–1977 Abraham Beame 3 Henry Geldzahler 1978–1982 Ed Koch 4 Randall Bourscheidt (Acting) 1982–1983 Ed Koch 5 Bess Myerson 1983–1987 Ed Koch 6 Mary Schmidt Campbell 1987–1991 Ed Koch 7 Luis R. Cancel 1991–1994 David Dinkins 8 Schuyler G. Chapin 1994–2001 Rudolph Giuliani 9 Kate Levin 2002–2013 Michael Bloomberg 10 Tom Finkelpearl 2014–2019 Bill de Blasio11Gonzalo Casals2020–2022Bill de Blasio12Laurie Cumbo2022–2026Eric Adams13Diya Vij2026–presentZohran Mamdani
References
External links
Department of Cultural Affairs in the Rules of the City of New York