On Wednesday, February 12, 2025, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, in partnership with Creatives Rebuild New York, hosted a hybrid event highlighting how the creative community and its workforce can drive a healthy economy across New York state and the nation.
This event featured presentations and discussions on creative financing of cultural spaces and businesses, policies such as portable benefits and worker cooperatives to support the creative workers, and more.
The event was of interest to artists, researchers, nonprofit leaders, policymakers, and philanthropy.
See the agenda for timing of specific conference segments.
February 12, 2025
2:00pm-5:00pm
Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Auditorium
33 Liberty Street
New York, NY
This event was open to the public.
This event was open to the media. All remarks were on the record, with the recording to be made available afterwards. For media inquiries, please contact Ellen Simon at Ellen.Simon@ny.frb.org .
Agenda
| 2:00pm-2:05pm |
Welcome Remarks (00:00:08 in video)
David Erickson, Head of Outreach & Education, Federal Reserve Bank of New York |
| 2:05pm-2:20pm |
The State of the Creative Workforce (00:04:18 in video)
Maria Rosario Jackson, National Urban Planning and Cultural Policy Resource Sarah Calderon, Executive Director, Creatives Rebuild New York |
| 2:20pm-3:10pm |
Artists at Work in Communities (00:22:27 in video)
Moderator: Ascala Tsegaye, Community Development and Cultural Strategist Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes, Chief Equity and Executive Officer, Ashé Cultural Arts Center Moy Eng, CEO Emeritus, Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST) Marissa Manitowabi, Master Culture Teacher, Stanley Huff Cultural Center at the Seneca Nation Kerry A. McLean, Vice President, Community Development, Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDco) |
| 3:10pm-3:20pm |
Musical Performance (01:11:58 in video)
Chief Baba Neil Clarke, Master Percussionist and Educator |
| 3:20pm-3:35pm | BREAK |
| 3:35pm-4:05pm |
Unlocking the Creative Economy to Drive Economic Strength (01:26:50 in video) Moderator: Adam Davidson, Co-founder and Contributor, Planet Money Gustavo Herrera, CEO, Arts for LA and Member, California Creative Economy Workgroup Jose Serrano-McClain, Partner, HR&A |
| 4:05pm-4:55pm |
Innovation and the Future of the Creative Workforce (01:54:24 in video)
Moderator: Shelly Steward, Chief Research Officer, The Workers Lab Rafael Espinal, Executive Director, Freelancers Union Alia Jones-Harvey, Associate Commissioner of Workforce Development and Educational Initiatives, NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment Lexi Gervis, Vice President, Government Affairs and Public Policy, SteadyIQ |
| 4:55pm-5:00pm |
Closing Remarks (02:45:00 in video)
Sarah Calderon, Executive Director, Creatives Rebuild New York |
