New York City Arts in Education RoundtableLive Testimony: Executive Budget Public Hearing Hon. Chair Linda LeeWednesday, June 10, 2026 Thank you to Chair Lee, CM Wong, and City Council staff for hosting today’s hearing and for your endurance! My name is Kimberly Olsen, and I am proud to be the Executive Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable.  I’m testifying as part of the It Starts with the Arts coalition — calling on our city to restore/baseline $30M funding to DCLA and invest in arts education via the Support for Arts Instruction Initiative. The future of NYC starts with the…

Testimony: Preliminary Budget Hearing – Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, & International Intergroup RelationsHon. Deputy Speaker Dr. Nantasha WilliamsWednesday, March 18, 2026 Thank you to Deputy Speaker Williams and the City Council for hosting today’s hearing and happy Arts in our Schools Month! My name is Kimberly Olsen, and I am proud to be the Executive Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable. I’m testifying as part of the It Starts with the Arts coalition — calling on our city to prioritize funding and policy change that improves arts education in NYC and supports its robust workforce. The arts…

New York City Arts in Education Roundtable 520 8th Avenue Suite 330 New York, NY 10018 Re: Support for Arts Education in New York State FY 2027 Budget Dear NY State Legislators, There is a critical need for support for arts education in NY State in the FY 2027 budget. Arts education and exposure to New York’s cultural riches are an essential component of every child’s education. New York must prioritize universal access to high-quality, culturally-responsive, and sequential arts education for ALL students with dedicated, adequate, and equitable funding. We call on New York State to fund NYSCA at $210M,…

Written Testimony: Oversight – Affordability in New York City’s Arts and Cultural Sector Hon. Deputy Speaker Dr. Nantasha WilliamsMonday, February 9, 2026 Thank you to Deputy Speaker Williams and the City Council for holding today’s hearing. My name is Kimberly Olsen, and I am proud to be the Executive Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable. We are a nonprofit service organization working to improve and advance arts education across NYC. Congratulations on becoming Chair of Cultural Affairs — we’re so excited to work with you in this new role! In NYC, arts education in school and community settings…

Oversight – Afterschool Expansion and DYCD’s Concept Paper Hon. Althea Stevens, Chair Thursday, September 18, 2025 Thank you for holding this oversight hearing on Afterschool Expansion and the Department of Youth and Community Development’s (DYCD) Concept Paper.  My name is Kimberly Olsen, and I am the Executive Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable — a nonprofit arts service organization working to improve and advance NYC arts education in partnership with thousands of arts educators and more than 350 arts organizations each year. I’m here as part of the It Starts with the Arts coalition to advocate for the…

Thank you to Chair Won, fellow Committee Members and Council staff, for your advocacy and championing of paying nonprofits on time.  My name is Kimberly Olsen, and I am the Executive Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable — a nonprofit arts service organization working to improve and advance NYC arts education in partnership with more than 300 arts organizations each year. I’m here as part of the It Starts with the Arts coalition, echoing the urgent need for timely payment and contracting. More than 700 cultural organizations worked in partnership with schools last year to bridge that gap,…

Testimony to the New York City CouncilCommittees on Education & Cultural Affairs, Libraries and International Intergroup RelationsHon. Rita Joseph, Chair // Hon. Carlina Rivera, ChairHearing: Joint Oversight Hearing – Ensuring Equity and Access in the ArtsTuesday, April 8, 2025 Thank you Chair Joseph and Chair Rivera, esteemed Committee Members, and Council staff for your championing of arts education. My name is Kim Olsen, and I am the Executive Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable. I’m here as part of the It Starts with the Arts coalition, echoing the urgent need to prioritize transparency in arts education across our…

Testimony to the New York City Council Committee on Cultural Affairs Hon. Carlina Rivera, ChairHearing: Preliminary Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2026Tuesday, March 18, 2025 Thank you to Chair Rivera, fellow Committee Members and Council staff, for your passion, leadership, and support of arts education in New York City.  My name is Kimberly Olsen, and I am proud to be the Executive Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable. I’m testifying as part of the It Starts with the Arts coalition and Coalition for Equitable Education Funding — calling on our city to prioritize funding for arts education in NYC…

Re: Support for Arts Education in New York State FY 2026 Budget Dear NY State Legislators, There is a critical need for support for arts education in NY State in the FY 2026 budget. Arts education and exposure to New York’s cultural riches are an essential component of every child’s education. New York must prioritize universal access to high-quality, culturally-responsive, and sequential arts education for ALL students with dedicated, adequate, and equitable funding. We call on New York State to make arts a core academic subject, fund NYSCA at $200M, restore staffing for arts education at the NYS Education Department,…

Re: Support for Arts Education in New York State (FY 2026), Arts Day 2025February 11, 2025 Thank you Senator Serrano and Assemblymember Kim for the invitation to testify today on the vital importance of arts education to the quality of life and development of all New Yorkers.  My name is Kimberly Olsen, and I am proud to be the Executive Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable. We are a nonprofit service organization working to improve and advance arts education across New York schools and communities. Engagement in the arts provides students with an avenue for learning, social, and…

Testimony to the New York City Council Committee on Cultural Affairs & Committee on FinanceHon. Carlina Rivera, ChairHon. Justin Brannan, ChairHearing: Executive Budget HearingTuesday, May 21, 2024 Thank you to Chair Rivera, Chair Brannan, fellow Committee Members and Council staff, for your passion, leadership, and support of arts education in New York City.  My name is Kimberly Olsen, and I am the Executive Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable. I’m testifying as part of the It Starts with the Arts coalition — calling on our city to 1) prioritize funding for arts education in NYC schools and communities…

Testimony to the New York City Council Committee on Education & Committee on FinanceHon. Rita Joseph, ChairHon. Justin Brannan, ChairHearing: Executive Budget HearingWednesday, May 15, 2024 Thank you to Chair Joseph, Chair Brannan, fellow Committee Members and Council staff, for your passion, leadership, and support of arts education in New York City.  My name is Kimberly Olsen, and I am the Executive Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable. I’m testifying as part of the It Starts with the Arts coalition — calling on our city to prioritize funding for arts education in NYC schools and communities in the…

Hearing: Committee on Education Preliminary Budget HearingHon. Rita Joseph, Chair Thank you to Chair Joseph, fellow Committee Members and Council staff, for your passion, leadership, and support of arts education in New York City.  My name is Kimberly Olsen, and I am the Executive Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable. We are an arts service organization that works with thousands of artists, educators, and cultural organizations each year to improve and advance arts education in NYC. I’m testifying as part of the It Starts with the Arts coalition — calling on our city to prioritize funding for arts…

Hearing: Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Intergroup RelationsHon. Carlina Rivera, Chair Thank you to Chair Carlina Rivera, fellow Committee Members and Council staff, for your passion, leadership, and support of arts, culture, and arts education in New York City.  My name is Kimberly Olsen, and I am the Executive Director of the NYC Arts in Education Roundtable. We are an arts service organization that works with thousands of artists, educators, and cultural organizations each year to improve and advance arts education in NYC. I’m testifying as part of the It Starts with the Arts coalition — calling on…

Joint Budget Hearing on Elementary & Secondary Education Re: Support for Arts Education in New York State FY 2025 Budget Dear NY State Legislators, There is a critical need for support for arts education in NY State in the FY 2025 budget. Arts education and exposure to New York’s cultural riches are an essential component of every child’s education. New York must prioritize equity and universal access to high-quality, culturally-responsive, and sequential arts education for ALL students with dedicated, adequate, and equitable funding. We call on New York State to make arts a core academic subject and restore staffing for…

JOINT LEGISLATIVE BUDGET HEARING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT Re: Support for Arts, Culture, and Arts Education in New York State FY 2025 Budget Dear NY State Legislators, There is a critical need for support for the arts and culture sector of NY State in the FY25 budget. Investing in culture in every community in every locality will lift our whole state and lead to a robust and equitable economy.. The Executive Budget reflects a major cut compared to the funding of last year. This will be devastating to the sector and must be addressed. We are asking for…