S.1364 Resident Curator Program

On March 9, 2021, Senator Jose Serrano’s bill S.1364 passed the NYS Senate. This important legislation brings us one step closer to establishing a successful resident curator program in New York State. This legislation would create a public/private partnership geared towards rehabilitation of underutilized buildings owned by the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) through private investment. Through this initiative, OPRHP-owned buildings that no longer support the agency’s mission and goals can be rehabilitated, finding new life and contributing to the historic fabric of our state.

S.1364 replaces former bill number S.1558, which the League advocated for in 2019.

The League thanks the Senator for his commitment to historic preservation initiatives, as well as the co-sponsors of this legislation, Senators John Mannion and Diane Savino.

Multiple states across the nation have created successful resident curator programs. In Maryland, almost 50 historic state-owned properties have been restored or are currently under restoration under their Resident Curatorship Program.

The League will continue working with all stakeholders while advocating for this legislation. We encourage the NYS Assembly to prioritize this legislation, which will ease the demand for New York State funds.