New York City's Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) has welcomed five new cultural nonprofits to its prestigious membership in a historic expansion that marks the first addition to the program in over five years. The newly admitted organizations include the Bronx Children's Museum, the Louis Armstrong House Museum, the Noble Maritime Collection, Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater (PRTT), and BRIC, a prominent Brooklyn-based arts space.

The expansion represents a rare occurrence for the city, as the last addition to CIG's membership took place more than five years ago when the Weeksville Heritage Center joined in 2019. Prior to that, the most recent addition was the Museum of Jewish Heritage in 1997. Mayor Eric Adams first announced plans for this expansion during his State of the City address in January.

Established in 1869 with the American Museum of Natural History as its founding member, the Cultural Institutions Group operates institutions in city-owned buildings and provides them with significant financial support from the city, including capital investment funding. The program currently includes many of the city's most renowned cultural institutions, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA PS1, the Studio Museum in Harlem, El Museo del Barrio, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, and the Queens Museum. With these five new additions, the total number of CIG institutions now reaches 39.

Each of the five newly admitted institutions previously received annual support and energy subsidies from the Cultural Development Fund through the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA). Moving forward, they will now receive enhanced annual operating subsidies as full CIG members. The selection process involved rigorous analysis of their operations, visitorship, and other factors, completed by DCLA in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget.

The five new members strategically represent all five boroughs of New York City, addressing long-standing concerns about geographic equity in cultural funding. Laurie Cumbo, the commissioner of cultural affairs, emphasized that these additions provide "a once-in-a-generation opportunity to foster greater equity in this important source of city support for the arts in all five boroughs."

Mayor Adams highlighted the broader impact of the expansion, stating, "With this historic expansion, we'll help even more cultural organizations provide affordable programming for families, good-paying jobs for New Yorkers, and safe spaces for young people to learn and stay off the streets. Crucially, we'll make sure that our city's Cultural Institutions Group reflects the rich diversity of our cultural sector and that every borough benefits from these investments."

Among the new members, BRIC stands out as a significant addition to Brooklyn's cultural landscape. Tracing its roots back to 1979 and mounting exhibitions since 1981, BRIC has evolved into a small but influential arts nonprofit in Downtown Brooklyn, particularly recognized for its innovative exhibition program. Recent notable exhibitions include "Latinx Abstract" (2021) and "When I Am Empty Please Dispose of Me Properly" (2023), along with solo shows featuring artists such as Buzz Slutzky, Rodrigo Valenzuela, and Suné Woods. The organization's upcoming exhibition, a solo show by Sarah K. Khan titled "Speak Sing Shout: We, Too, Sing America," is scheduled to open on October 7.

Beyond exhibitions, BRIC actively supports artists through various programs, including the Colene Brown Art Prize, which provides an unrestricted grant of $10,000, and ArtFP, an open-call program that assists artists in realizing exhibitions in the organization's project room and hallway spaces. The nonprofit serves approximately 130,000 people annually, demonstrating its significant community impact.

Wes Jackson, BRIC's president, expressed the organization's excitement about joining the CIG, calling it "a historic milestone for BRIC." He noted that the membership "recognizes us among the institutions that have shaped New York City's cultural legacy. For Brooklyn, it means greater investment in our creative future. For the city, it brings something new—a media and cultural partner grounded in community and innovation."

The diversity of the new CIG members reflects the city's commitment to supporting various cultural disciplines and communities. Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, established in 1967 and based in the South Bronx and Manhattan, represents the oldest institution in this cohort and is considered one of the country's first bilingual theaters. In contrast, the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Queens, which opened in 2023, represents the most recently established member.

The Noble Maritime Collection in Staten Island, established in 1986, brings maritime cultural heritage to the group, while the Bronx Children's Museum, which opened in 2005, serves an impressive 325,000 children and families annually, highlighting the program's commitment to educational outreach and youth engagement.

Commissioner Cumbo reflected on the long-term significance of the expansion, noting that the city's "150-year relationship with the CIG has created cultural institutions that strengthen our communities, drive our economy, and connect with New Yorkers across the city." She added that "with this historic expansion of the CIG, we're setting up these five new members—which span disciplines, geographies, and audiences—to grow their programs and serve as vital, sustainable hubs for culture and community for generations to come."

This expansion of the Cultural Institutions Group represents not only a significant investment in New York City's cultural infrastructure but also a commitment to ensuring that cultural resources and support are distributed more equitably across all five boroughs, providing enhanced opportunities for diverse communities to access and participate in the city's rich cultural offerings.