Mission:

CultureNOW dedicates itself to the promotion of diversity in New York through arts education and cultural tourism.  The purpose of the organization is to promote awareness of New York City’s culturally vast environment by providing the most current information on cultural and civic organizations and artistic and historic resources. It does this in the form of maps, guides and websites tailored to the specific context of a community. CultureNOW began in 2002 from work done by New York/New Visions, the pro bono coalition of design professionals formed in response to the tragic events of September 11th.

CultureNOW passionately pursues cultural tourism; firmly promoting the discovery of New York City as a citywide gallery that exists beyond museum walls. CultureNOW affirms culture comes from people in a community and sees mapping as the primary vehicle for promoting the richness and diversity in a community. Cultural mapping is a passion for CultureNOW that has moved beyond a mere commitment.  The city is changing rapidly and radically as a million new people are projected by PLANYC to call New York City home by 2030. At this moment it is vital to document the changes in our cultural heritage for reflection and education. CultureNOW takes charge at this poignant and special moment in New York City history as communities make leaps and bounds towards a new urban landscape.

CultureNOW places arts education at the forefront of its mission.   Only two months after it was formed in 2002, CultureNOW began a mentoring program for interns in order to provide a cultural education experience for those who might not otherwise have an opportunity.  CultureNOW’s first interns were high school students from the Manhattan Public Schools’ Summer Art Institute.  The internship was so successful that CultureNOW matriculates interns every summer from universities such as Parsons, City College and Harvard University.  In addition, CultureNOW participates in a variety of school-sponsored activities from exhibitions at Columbia University to academic conferences and has worked with classes at Pratt Institute to provide content for a planning and architecture course.

To date, CultureNOW is powered by a volunteer effort of professionals in the field: scholars, artists, architects, urban planners, educators, curators and New York City specialists.  In keeping with a diverse perspective, the organization identifies a need to make the wealth of information in its database as widely accessible as possible.  This goal propelled the creation of accompanying guides and websites for the maps.

 

Board Members:

President: Abby Suckle
Susan Chin
Diana Darling
Anne Lewison
Suzanne O'Keefe
Diana Pardue
Nina Rappaport

 

Project Team:

Designer:
Abby Suckle FAIA

Project Team:
Team Leader: David Giglio
David Anderson
Becky Cooper
Cara Eisenpress
Lauren Lim Jackson
Carmen James
Alison Kwiatkowski
Ryshelle McCadney
Sofia Sequenzia
Brian Von Glahn
Kimberly Williams

With thanks to:
Catherine Behrend
Chris Calori
Naomi Campbell
Charlotte Cohen
Michele Cohen
Kate Deibler
Jenny Dixon
Paul Fitzpatrick
Ian Giblin
Vilhelmina Guthrie
Jacqueline Hanley
Terry Hemphill
Ann Kafesjian
Peter Keenan
David Korzenik
Jonathan Kuhn
Lindsay LaRusso
Anjali Lohani
Laura Manheim
John Mattera
Thea McKenzie
Gregory Mink
Jodi Moise
Andra Moss
Jean Parker Phifer FAIA
Steve Romalewski
Michael Rush
Evan Sils
Christy Spielman
Staci Temple
Justin Traylor
Lisa Wan
Christina Wells
Natalie Wigginton

Additional thanks to:
Art Commission of the City of New York
Harvard University Office of Career Services
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
Lower Manhattan Developmental Corporation
Metropolitan Transportation Authority Arts for Transit
National Park Service
New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
New York City Department of Transportation
New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation
New York City School Construction Authority
New York State Unified Court System – Office of Court Administration
Port Authority of New York & New Jersey
United States General Services Administration

 

Support for this map has been provided by:

• New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
  This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs
• New York State Council on the Arts
  This program is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State agency
• The American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter
• Con Edison
• Adobe
  
  Adobe