The Second Year of the Adams Administration Provided an Opportunity for MOME to Continue its Support for NYC’s Creative Sectors via the Appointment of a New Commissioner, Launch of the NYC Summer of Games Initiative, Awarding of the NYC Women’s Fund, and More
As 2023 comes to a close, the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) is proud to release a list of key wins achieved for NYC’s creative sectors over the last 12 months. These sectors, which help to generate $150 billion in economic activity and support 500,000 jobs for New Yorkers, include TV/film, music, live performance, digital games and more.
“When New York City’s creative industries thrive, New York City thrives, and I’m so proud of the work MOME has done in 2023 to support these sectors, especially our world-renown film and television production industry which was hit very hard by the strikes,” said Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman. “This sector is set for a major recovery period as production returns, the industry’s 185,000 employees come back to work, and new production studios open throughout the city.”
Highlights from MOME in 2023 include:
- Supported JanArtsNYC, an annual initiative that collects and spotlights the variety of world-class theatre and live performance events taking place throughout the month of January at various NYC venues, in an effort going on 10+ years that supports local theatre and attracts global audiences.
- Awarded $2 million in funding via the NYC Women’s Fund to a record 96 women-led projects in media, music and theatre, bringing the total awarded to $7.5 million since 2019, and opened applications for a new round of funding to help address the underrepresentation of women in the entertainment industry.
- Hosted the 5th annual NYC Pubic School Film Festival, which spotlighted 25 films from 47 middle & high schools students across all 5 boroughs – out of a record 183 submissions – celebrating the talent and diversity of DOE students’ voices.
- Hosted NY Music Month, which returned for its 6th year with 60+ in-person/online programs/events, including an industry conference, skill-building workshops, concerts, free rehearsal space & NYC artist showcases, all to boost NYC’s reputation as a global music capital and reaching more than 700,000 people.
- Hosted the first-ever NYC Summer of Games initiative, a collection of digital games events across all 5 boroughs, which kicked off with the inaugural ‘Minecraft Education Battle of the Boroughs Mayor’s Cup’ at the Intrepid Museum, all serving to drive awareness for NYC as a global digital games hub.
- Joined NYC Mayor Adams in celebrating the appointment of MOME’s new Commissioner Pat Swinney Kaufman, who in her first 6 months has continued to support, strengthen, and diversify NYCs media and entertainment industries, welcoming new production studios to Manhattan at Sunset Pier 94 and Queens at East End in Sunnyside, hosting the free “Made in NY” Talks informational series, and continuing a partnership with Brooklyn Workforce Innovations to support the “Made in NY” production training programs which has thus far placed 1200+ NYers into the film/TV industry.
- Together with Mayor Adams, convened first-ever Theatre and Live Performance Industry Council, bringing NYC agencies together with 50+ representatives from arenas, cultural institutions, unions, and nonprofits to help develop solutions for issues plaguing the industry.
- Received four New York Emmy Awards out of seven nominations for NYC Media, the City of NY’s broadcast network, which serves to inform, educate and entertain New Yorkers about the city’s diverse people, neighborhoods, government services, attractions and activities.
For updates on the above and future initiatives to support NYC’s creative sectors, follow the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment @madeinNY on Twitter/X and Facebook, and @madein_NY on Instagram and Threads.