Governor Kathy Hochul on Sunday announced $12.5 million to establish a Dominican Center for Arts and Culture in northern Manhattan. Led by the Dominican Studies Institute (DSI) at the City College of New York, it will be the first cultural center of its kind dedicated to preserving and celebrating the arts and culture of the Dominican Republic and New Yorkers of Dominican descent.
“Without our Dominican community, New York would not be what it is today,” said Governor Hochul. “With this first-of-its-kind arts and culture center, New York will celebrate and preserve the history of the Dominican Republic and the countless contributions of Dominicans that have helped make our community in northern Manhattan what it is today.”
The Dominican Center for the Arts and Culture will be located in the Washington Heights/Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan. The center will include:
• A museum and exhibition space showcasing Dominican and Latin American artists – the only high-profile institutional exhibition space of its kind in Northern Manhattan that is open to the public free of charge.
• A theatre room or auditorium for performances, music, film screenings or large lectures, equipped with the latest sound and lighting systems.
• A children’s library focused on Spanish language preservation, 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 neighborhood’s cultural history.
CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez said, “This investment will enable CUNY’s Institute of Dominican Studies to create a center that celebrates the rich history and traditions of the Dominican Republic, whose population represents the largest immigrant group in both our city and our university. We thank Governor Hochul for remembering the many important contributions of people of Dominican descent and the key role they play in New York City’s history.”
Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat said, “Dominican culture and the diaspora have undeniably had an impact on communities across the country, and nowhere is that more evident than here in New York City and especially in Northern Manhattan. There is an urgent need for a Dominican Cultural Center to recognize and celebrate the contributions of our community. I am deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for her commitment to provide more than $12.5 million in state funds to support the development of the center. With today’s announcement, I will have successfully helped secure nearly $38 million in public investment to bring this visionary project to fruition.”
Assemblyman Manny De Los Santos said, “I am thrilled to celebrate this important milestone toward our goal of establishing 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 the funds that will help make this important project a reality.”
New York City Council Member Carmen De La Rosa said, “Thank you, Governor Hochul, for your commitment to preserving the history of the Dominican people. The $12.5 million in funding for the Dominican American Cultural Center is critical to the cultural imprint and legacy of generations of Dominicans who have made their home here and transformed our communities.”
