No music in Zohran Mamdani’s arts team for New York
NewsThis is the arts and culture transition committee for New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s incoming administration. Draw your own conclusions.
Hiba Abid, New York Public Library
Elizabeth Alexander, Mellon Foundation
Suroosh Alvi, Vice
Jessica Baker, Vodoor Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden
Alexis Bittar, Jewelry Designer
Rocky Bucano, Hip Hop Museum
Gonzalo Casals, Culture & Arts Policy Institute
Carolyn Concepcion, ARTNOIR
Colm Dillane, KidSuper
Kimberly Drew, Pace Gallery
Atiba Edwards, Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Kamilah Forbes, Apollo Theatre
Lisa Gold, Asian American Arts Alliance
Jenna Hamed, curator and book maker
Kemi Ilesanmi, KG1
Wes Jackson, BRIC
Ruba Katrib, MoMA PS1
Coco Killingsworth, Cultural Institutions Group
Mino Lora, The Peoples Theatre
Patricia McGregor, NY Theatre Workshop
Lydia Pilcher, Cine Mosaic
Victoria Rogers, Leadership Strategist
Hal Rosenbluth, Kaufman Astoria Studios
Legacy Russell, the Kitchen
Kenny Savoca, IATSE 161
Hannah Traore, Hannah Traore Gallery
Diya Vij, Powerhouse Arts
Dennis Walcott, Queens Library
Actually, the Kitchen is new music. None of New York’s elite arts organizations are represented here – the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Frick Collection, Museum of Modern Art, etc. etc. City government has been a tiny factor in the support of the programming of such organizations for a very long time. They give tiny grants to start-up level organizations and programs. There is also a list of large organizations who occupy city-owned buildings and receive funds for operating expenses. The inclusion or exclusion on that list is a matter of history, and the actual grants rarely seem a subject of controversy. On that list are the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Carnegie Hall, among others. I think the main function of the tiny Department of Cultural Affairs has been to give permits for outdoor movie shoots, which has become an increasingly common activity in the City.
True.
It is America, not Europe, the annual budget of the NYC Cultural Affairs Department is $200M, that of the Met is $335M, individual members of the boards of NY’s elite cultural institutions are richer and more powerful than the entire NYC Cultural Affairs Department, what do they need with with some cultural affairs bureaucrat with a minuscule slice of pie (crumbs really) to hand out?
So very true. The handful of major organizations in NYC survive just fine without the assistance of the DCA or the NEA.
Both The Kitchen and BRIC present quite a bit of contemporary classical music. And that list of organizations who occupy city-owned buildings is the Cultural Institutions Group, and it includes Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Wave Hill, Toscanini’s former estate.
I’m impressed that there’s an arts transition team at all. I’ve lived in NYC since the ’90s (and full disclosure, happily voted for Mamdani) and I don’t think I’ve ever heard of an incoming mayor having such a committee.
PS – Powerhouse Arts is also presenting some contemporary classical music these days.
The people of NYC made a choice. It is time to pay the price.
They elected someone who won’t surprise anyone when he calls for donations to erect a monument in memory of the 9/11 hijackers, at Ground Zero.
It’s the end of the world’s capital as a cultural landmark. The liberals of Columbia now add Mamdani to their list of monthly donations, along with Hamas.
Years ago we had protests against Beethoven in NYC. Soon we’ll see protests against the arts industry as its elitist caretakers dig their grave.
Sad state of the city.
Lunacy knows Mamdani
I suppose a statue will be built with the help of the Felon-in-Chief and his recent ‘guest’ the murderer in chief of Saudi Arabia since it was his people who bombed the WTC!! How easily we forget the real culprits !!!
Very much prejudiced statement from Mr/Ms Powell.
As expected
From the Left
Hyperbolic much?
As the NYT reported, his election is a watershed moment in that a mayor no longer needs a Jewish bloc to win because NY Jews are themselves divided, basically 50/50, on Gaza, and indeed, on Israel.
And more than 50% of the Jewish Community simply isn’t afraid of Muslims. Mamdani’s faith simply isn’t the issue the Right wants it to be.
Is he a twunk, an otter, or straight up daddy?
What in the world are you referring to?? Best to bone up on your references.
Duh….what did you expect?
In a lighter vein, it looks like he borrowed Yuja’s “overalls” (per NL) for that top photo.
Yuja definitely wore it better. I see Norman L. searched high and low for the most flattering photo of Zohran possible.
Zhoran did a hip-hop rap video and this is what he wore in the video when he wanted to be the next Jay-Z. Youtube it. NYC voted in a rapper wannabe. LOL. NYC is going to be like watching a SNL skit.
My god, the racism on this site. Easy to see why Reform is polling so well and why all of our major media has decided to throw their lot in behind it.
‘Glad someone else notices. Very disheartening, isn’t it?
Commenters on this site are often reactionary, racist, misogynist, Islamophobic and quite stupid. I come here for the articles and then glance at the comments to confirm my first statement!
Isn’t it racist to hate classical music and deem it white? Isn’t it racist to hate the Jews? History proves me correct. Classical music is the white man’s game according to the Marxists and yet classical music lovers keep voting in the commies who hate classical. Clearly you are a commie.
What on earth are you on about? I’ve never had the misfortune to read such a stream of non sequiturs in my life.
He should have put his Mum on the committee.
Both the Hip Hop Museum and the Apollo Theatre have music. So what do you define as music? This is a misleading headline.
Those venues book talent and do not need government intervention at all. I know musician who performed at the Apollo. LOL, Classical music is the white man’s game according to the Marxists and yet classical music lovers keep voting in the commies who hate classical.
Wish LaMama was represented.
If the wealthy patrons up sticks and leave NYC, who will donate to the music establishments.
LOL, gonna become Chicago. The arts scene is getting hammered in Chi-town. CSO tickets are at half. I waited to buy tickets to a concert in the burbs and it sold out. Classical music is the white man’s game according to the Marxists and yet classical music lovers keep voting in the commies who hate classical. Good luck! Those property taxes will sky rocket in a year just like Chicago.
There’s maybe one Jew, if any…he must be terrified of Jews.
The police commissioner is jewish…
As one who lives under a socialist mayor, I can tell you that they’re no better than MAGA dolts, as far as cultural literacy goes.
So, he knows nothing about music, except for Hip Hop, or really obvious Frank Sinatra…UGH!!! That makes me a bit nervous, and I voted for him…Hope he doesn’t disappoint.