Audrey St. Clair outlines NYC's commitment to equitable arts education programs

The New York City Council held a meeting on April 8, 2025, focusing on "Ensuring Equity and Access in the Arts." The session featured testimony from Audrey St. Clair, Assistant Commissioner for Program Services at the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), who emphasized the importance of arts education in fostering social-emotional learning and resilience among students.

St. Clair highlighted the need to reimagine the arts office to create a more equitable arts ecosystem. She stated that the DCLA is developing data-driven systems to measure progress and distribute resources fairly. This initiative aims to ensure that every student, regardless of their background, has access to high-quality arts education and clear pathways for creative growth.

The meeting underscored the significant impact of arts education on student outcomes. St. Clair referenced a study indicating that former art students are 55% more likely to complete post-secondary education and 29% more likely to earn a four-year college degree by age 32. She noted that arts education helps students express themselves, build confidence, and develop critical thinking skills.

St. Clair also discussed various programs supported by the DCLA, including the Cultural Development Fund (CDF), which funds arts education projects across the city. In fiscal year 2025, over 420 CDF grantees proposed arts education initiatives, involving numerous nonprofit organizations that deliver high-quality arts programs to students in all five boroughs.

Examples of supported programs include Arts Connection, which reaches over 25,000 students and educators, and Dancing Classrooms, which serves more than 13,000 students in Title 1 schools through social dance programs. Other initiatives focus on engaging students with disabilities and those in low-income neighborhoods, ensuring that arts education is accessible to all.

The meeting concluded with a call for sustained investment and bold thinking to embed the arts as a core element of education, crucial for the future success of students and the cultural prosperity of New York City.