The Show Must Go On:
Championing NYC Arts, Culture, and Creativity
Brad will stitch arts and culture into the fabric of daily life through lively public spaces, lifelong cultural engagement, access to afterschool arts for all students, and more.
He will put cultural institutions in the spotlight by partnering to host more community-rooted events, providing more funding for individual artists and small arts organizations, increasing the number of CIG members, getting nonprofits paid on time, and making the City government a better co-star.
He will ensure financial security for artists and cultural workers — with real career paths and the creative spaces and resources they need to thrive. He will incentivize investment in culture and arts through neighborhood rezonings, public-private partnerships, and more. Back to Issues
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Brad has been a steadfast champion for arts and culture in New York City, recognizing that a thriving creative sector is not only central to our economy but essential to the soul of our city.
As a City Council member, Brad built strong relationships with members of the Brooklyn Children’s Theatre supporting their work in public schools in Kensington. He partnered with community organizations, like the Bangladeshi Institute for the Performing Arts, and championed visual and textile arts, theater and circus programs. These initiatives have led many diverse young people to pursue careers in the arts and culture and media, and have shown Brad firsthand the transformative power of arts education in young people.
Also as a City Council Member, he brought arts into neighborhood planning and used his office to lift up local cultural efforts across Brooklyn and beyond. Brad worked closely with artists as part of the Gowanus rezoning which resulted in over 8500 housing units (3000 affordable housing) and over 100 affordable housing artist studios that will rent at about $300/month. Brad has the deepest experience and strongest track record of any of the candidates on affordable housing.
A longtime advocate for equity in cultural funding, Brad has worked to ensure that small and mid-sized arts organizations—especially those led by BIPOC, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ New Yorkers—receive the investment and attention they deserve. He has consistently supported participatory budgeting, giving residents the power to fund arts and culture projects in their own communities.
As Comptroller, he spotlighted the vital role of the creative economy highlighting the urgent need to support struggling nonprofit theaters, individual artists, and community-based organizations. Throughout his public service, Brad has engaged directly with cultural institutions, artists, and creative workers, showing up for community events and industry forums to listen and learn. He has pushed for reforms to make city funding more accessible and timely, advocated for stronger protections for freelance artists, and made the case that investing in the arts is key to creating a more just, vibrant, and inclusive city.