A new effort was unveiled Monday to revive the arts during the pandemic.
Sal "The Voice" Valentinetti says he would love to be back performing in front of a large crowd again. But the popular Long Island singer is concerned that Gov. Andrew Cuomo's announcement of
NY PopsUp may not directly benefit Long Island's performers and smaller venues.
"A, he's not doing anything for local performers and local musicians. And B, he's not really doing anything for local venues, music venues that have been suffering for the last year, and it's kind of difficult to get behind that as a New Yorker," said Valentinetti.
Cuomo says the initiative will benefit the entire state.
"It's the first initiative in the nation that will accelerate the restoration of the arts and performances and creative energy," said Cuomo. "They're free, they are not designed to be pre-scheduled and draw a crowd, because we actually don't want the crowd."
Cuomo says NY PopsUp is more than 300 pop-up arts events that will happen across the state, over 100 days. He says the events will be open to the public.
Cuomo says the performances will happen in places such as parking lots, parks and museums, but did not give specifics about where or when you'll be able to see those performances in Suffolk or Nassau counties.
The governor said many big names have already been booked, but Valentinetti says he hopes Long Island's local artists and venues are not left out.
"If there's not going to be a push for local musicians, local venues, to help them kind of rise from the ashes of what's been, really a disaster for the industry, I can't support that," Valentinetti said.
The first event is scheduled for Feb. 20 at the Javits Center in Manhattan. It is a special performance to benefit health care workers.