Hochul commits $80 million to boost arts and culture in N.Y. post-COVID

Gov. Kathy Hochul this week announced a major boost in state funding for grants and capital projects around nonprofit arts and cultural organizations.  We checked on how this increase will make a big difference in the Hudson Valley and beyond.

Nearly 15,000 square feet of space to experience theater, with a breathtaking view of the Hudson River. Theater company Hudson Valley Shakespeare is on its way to creating a new home.

“If you come to a Shakespeare play during the summer, you’ll have a very different experience with a lot of elevated experiences,” said the company’s managing director, Kendra Ekeuland. “But the property will also be publicly accessible during the day for people to walk through the meadows, walk on pathways and just come up and take and enjoy the view from the ridge.” 

It broke ground on Wednesday.

The shovels made possible through $13 million in state funds, part of New York’s increased emphasis on the arts. Hochul recently announced a total of $80 million available to support arts and cultural organizations across regions.

Ekeuland says having state funds for these projects is essential in the post-COVID era.   

“Funding priorities are shifting as our country moves in different directions, and it’s less certain than ever that foundation funding and corporate funding is available. And individuals are stepping up just as much as they are focusing on other things,” she said. 

Arts and cultural organizations also do more than serve the community they exist in. They’re landmarks that draw people to an area they may not otherwise visit. 

“We’re lucky to share it with people who come and visit and bring tourism dollars to help boost the local economy,” Eekuland said. “So having an attraction like this in a rural place to help with circularity of tourist traffic, I hope will really bring a benefit to the local community.” 

Construction on the Hudson Valley Shakespeare theater is expected to continue through next year, with the hopes that they will be able to host plays in the new space for the 2026 season.