LI ARTS: Creative Community Huddles: ‘Arts Advocacy in Action’ / 11.10th, 10 AM > Zoom

LIAA’s 2026 Advocacy Agenda (Work In Progress)

Grounded in the Sustaining Long Island’s Creative Spark report, LIAA has outlined an initial framework of priorities to guide discussion: a starting point, not a finished plan. We want your feedback, ideas, and local perspectives to help shape this agenda into a true reflection of the field.

County-Level Goals

• Increase local investment in arts and culture through county hotel/motel tax allocations and dedicated arts funds.
• Establish county arts advisory mechanisms that align cultural development with tourism, education, and economic strategies.
• Launch a Long Island Grants Academy as a county-level investment to build local capacity, increase application success rates, and provide shared technical assistance.
• Dedicate 1% of county budgets (approximately $80 million annually) to support arts programming and operations.
• Integrate artists into public planning and expand public art initiatives that contribute to civic vitality.

State-Level Goals

• Advance funding equity across state agencies, ensuring Long Island receives a fair share of arts and culture investment proportional to its population and economic contribution.
• Expand the NYSCA budget to $150 million to increase access and equity for regional arts organizations.
• Create 1,000 new artist housing and workspace units, including conversions of underused commercial spaces for cultural use.
• Advance implementation of statewide arts education legislation, including S6318A/A6490B and S285/A1502, which codify arts and music as core components of K–12 public education.
• Recognize arts education and creative workforce development as core elements of statewide community and economic planning.