Arts Services Inc. of Western New York (ASI) is proud to share that we have been selected as a 2026 Community Plank partner through the Partnership for the Public Good (PPG). PPG is a regional advocacy organization working to advance equitable policy solutions for the Buffalo-Niagara region.

This selection is an important step in ASI’s ongoing advocacy work and reflects a growing recognition that arts and culture are essential public infrastructure and deserving of coordinated leadership, sustainable investment, and equitable policy support at the city level.

What is Partnership for the Public Good?

Partnership for the Public Good (PPG) is a coalition of more than 350 local organizations working together to shape a shared Community Agenda for policy change. Each year, PPG partners select a small number of priority “planks” that focus on achievable, local policy actions with the potential for meaningful impact within one year, all while advancing racial equity across the region.

Being selected as a Community Plank means ASI will work collaboratively with PPG, community partners, and local leaders throughout 2026 to move this policy forward through research, coalition-building, public education, and direct engagement with elected officials.

ASI’s 2026 Community Plank

Create a Department of Arts and Culture within the City of Buffalo

ASI’s 2026 Community Plank calls on the City of Buffalo to establish a dedicated Department of Arts and Culture to centralize, strengthen, and expand city support for arts and cultural activity. This new department would incorporate the existing Buffalo Arts Commission and consolidate current city efforts, such as public art administration, support for city-owned cultural facilities, and arts funding into a coordinated and transparent structure.

While the City currently maintains a $400,000 arts budget line item, there has been no formal distribution process in place since 2017, and other forms of support remain fragmented. A Department of Arts and Culture would provide sustained administrative capacity, establish equitable funding processes, and advance long-term arts policy that better serves small- and mid-sized arts organizations, frontline arts groups, and culturally specific institutions.

This work is being shaped through community-led advocacy. ASI will partner with a broad coalition of artists and arts organizations including Greater Buffalo Cultural Alliance (GBCA) and Frontline Arts Buffalo (FAB), representing hundreds of cultural workers across the city.

Establishing a Department of Arts and Culture is especially timely during Buffalo’s mayoral transition and Charter revision process. Within the coming year, ASI and partners will work to advance this proposal through public hearings, research presentations, and direct engagement with elected officials – laying the groundwork for a more equitable, coordinated, and resilient cultural ecosystem in Buffalo.

Why This Matters

Buffalo is at a pivotal moment, with the mayoral transition and an active City Charter revision process. Establishing a Department of Arts and Culture now would help protect and sustain the City’s cultural ecosystem through leadership changes, reduce organizational instability, and ensure that arts and culture remain a citywide priority for years to come.

Just as importantly, this plank directly advances racial equity. While nearly half of Buffalo’s population identifies as non-white, historic city arts support has disproportionately favored larger, older institutions. A formal department would allow the City to intentionally prioritize equitable funding practices, culturally specific programming, and institutions rooted in communities of color, ensuring fair access to public resources and decision-making.

Looking Ahead

Over the coming year, our goals include advancing this proposal through the City Charter revision process, participating in public hearings, presenting research and best-practice models, and building broad support among community members and decision-makers.

We’re honored to be part of PPG’s 2026 Community Agenda and excited to continue advocating for a City of Buffalo where arts and culture are recognized, supported, and resourced as a the valuable public resource they are.

More updates will be shared as this work moves forward!