PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING NYC

Arts & Democracy serves as a resource to Participatory Budgeting in New York City (PBNYC) integrating arts, culture, and community media into this innovative approach to participatory democracy.

Getting Out the Vote with the Arts!

Arts & Democracy engaged the arts to get out the vote in the 10th year of Participatory Budgeting with City Councilmember Shahana Hanif and the District 39 District Committee. An artmaking workshop helped PB Delegates create posterboards of their projects, which were then displayed at a Community Expo at the Park Slope Armory. A concert at Kensington Plaza with The Singing Winds and a salsa class with Dancewave at the Old Stone House made it fun to vote for community projects.

PB NYC

New York City is experiencing a new kind of democracy. Through Participatory Budgeting, residents are directly deciding how to spend public money. Community members are exchanging ideas, working together to turn ideas into project proposals, and voting to decide what proposals get funded. Arts & Democracy is involved throughout the process as a cultural resource.

Arts + Participatory Budgeting

Adding arts throughout the participatory budgeting process can make it more fun, meaningful, and powerful. This brochure shares examples for incorporating arts as you brainstorm ideas, develop proposals, get out the vote, and fund winning projects.

See What the People Can Do: The Accomplishments of the People's Budget

Our Jane's Walk highlighted the accomplishments of Participatory Budgeting in District 39 
on May 6, from 1-2:30 PM

On this free walk, we learned more about PB, visited projects that our community chose to invest in, & spoke with City Councilmember Brad Lander, who helped bring PB to NY.

Social Media Workshop

The Social Media Workshop took place March 6. The first half, led by Carlos Pareja, was about shooting a video with your camera phone. In the second half, led by Daniel LaTorre, participants developed a social media strategy.

Animating PB with Arts & Culture

The Animating PB with Arts & Culture workshop took place at the 2014 Participatory Budgeting Conference in Oakland, CA. It included a mini workshop with artist/planner James Rojas, presentations by Caron Atlas and Valter Ferreira, and group brainstorming about how arts, culture, and grassroots media can animate PB and other participatory proccesses.

Participatory Budgeting NYC Creative Resources

Arts, culture, and media were integrated into Participatory Budgeting in New York City (PBNYC) in its 2011-2012 inaugural year. This list of creative resources, compiled by Arts & Democracy Project with the Arts and Culture Committee of the PBNYC Citywide Steering Committee, is intended as an inspiration for year 2.