Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $12.5 million to establish a Dominican Center for Arts and Culture in Upper Manhattan. Led by the Dominican Studies Institute (DSI) at the City College of New York, this will be the first cultural center of its kind dedicated to preserving and celebrating the arts and culture of the Dominican Republic, as well as New Yorkers of Dominican descent.
“New York would not be what we are today without our Dominican community,” he said. Governor Hochul“Through this first-of-its-kind cultural and arts center, New York will celebrate and preserve the history of the Dominican Republic, as well as the countless contributions Dominican Americans have made to help shape our Northern Manhattan community into what it is today.”
The Dominican Center for Arts and Culture will be located in the Washington Heights/Inwood section of Manhattan. The Center will include:
- A museum and exhibition space to showcase Dominican and Latino artists: the only high-level institutional exhibition space of its kind in Northern Manhattan, open to the public free of charge.
- A theatre or auditorium space for presentations, music, film screenings or large conferences, equipped with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems.
- A children’s library that will focus on the preservation of the Spanish language, managed by a branch of the New York Public Library in collaboration with the Dominican Library of CUNY DSI.
- An oral history and archival project focused on preserving the cultural history of the neighborhood.
CUNY Chancellor Felix V. Matos Rodriguezsaid, “This investment will enable the CUNY Institute for Dominican Studies to create a center that celebrates the rich history and traditions of the Dominican Republic, whose people represent the largest immigrant group in both our city and the University. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for commemorating the many important contributions made by people of Dominican descent and the key role they play in New York’s history.”
Representative Adriano Espaillat “Dominican culture and the diaspora have had an undeniable impact on communities across the country, and nowhere is this more evident than here in New York City, and especially in Northern Manhattan. There is a pressing need for a Dominican cultural center that recognizes and celebrates the contributions of our community. I am deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for her commitment of more than $12.5 million in state funding to support the development of the center. With today’s announcement, I will have successfully helped secure nearly $38 million in public investments to make this visionary project a reality.”
Assemblyman Manny De Los Santos Governor Hochul said, “I am thrilled to celebrate this important milestone in our goal to establish the Dominican Center for Arts and Culture in my district. The Center will help preserve and promote our Dominican culture throughout Northern Manhattan, New York City, and beyond. New Yorkers, visitors, and future generations will be able to learn about and experience the rich Dominican heritage that has shaped and continues to shape our communities. I thank Governor Hochul for sharing this vision and supporting the community with funding that will help make this important project happen.”
New York City Councilwoman Carmen De La Rosa said: “Thank you, Governor Hochul, for your commitment to elevating the stories of the Dominican people. The $12.5 million funding for the Dominican-American Cultural Center is vital to the cultural footprint and legacy of generations of Dominicans who have made this place a home and transformed our communities.”
