News
Dance Worker Digest | April 2026
This month's Digest covers labor, equity, and funding developments affecting dance workers in New York City and beyond. At the local level, workers at New York Live Arts are organizing for their first union contract, the city has released a long-overdue Preliminary Racial Equity Plan, and the NYC Council has responded to the Mayor's proposed budget with a call for increased arts funding amid a deficit of up to $12 billion. At the federal level, the Trump administration has proposed dramatically cutting and, in some cases, eliminating funding for the NEA and other key cultural agencies.
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Dance/NYC Announces 5th Iteration of Dance Advancement Fund
Application Cycle Opens April 15, 2026: Supporting Small-Budget Dance Makers Across the New York City Metropolitan Area…
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Advocacy Alert: Take Action on 3 Key State Budget Priorities
Support arts funding, arts education, and immigrant protections in New York State
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Dance Worker Digest | March 2026
This month’s Dance Worker Digest highlights key shifts in policy and leadership shaping the field. From a proposed $30 minimum wage in NYC and ongoing state budget negotiations to new leadership at the Department of Cultural Affairs and emerging artist business models, these updates point to both challenges and opportunities for dance workers.
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Testimony to City Council Committee On Cultural Affairs, Libraries And International Relations
Submitted to City Council Committee On Cultural Affairs, Libraries And International Relations on March 18, 2026
Prepared by Melinda Wang, Research and Advocacy Manager of Dance/NYC
Testimony given by Raquel Du Toit, Executive Director, in conjunction with the Cultural Equity Coalition.…
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Advocacy Alert: Testify this March to Fund Dance & Dance Education in the City Budget
This March, dance workers have the opportunity to provide vital public input on how the city spends its money at the NYC Council Preliminary Budget Hearings. New Yorkers can share their experiences and advocate for increased funding and stability for arts and culture in our city.
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Dance/NYC Launches Our New York City Dance 2026 Campaign
Virtual Launch Event on March 25 Invites Dance Workers and Advocates to Mobilize for the Future of Dance in NYC…
Dance Worker Digest | February 2026
This month’s digest highlights key developments in New York City and State government, and nationwide. Mayor Mamdani is collecting tenant testimony on unsafe housing conditions and unfair practices, while the City Council—now led by newly elected Speaker Julie Menin—has formed key committees, including the Cultural Affairs Committee, positioning arts funding and affordability as central issues during budget season. At the state level, Governor Hochul’s proposed FY27 Executive Budget includes significant cuts to the NYSCA, prompting advocacy efforts to restore funding. Meanwhile, heightened ICE enforcement in Minnesota has prompted widespread community mobilization.
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