The Made in NY Media Academya groundbreaking initiative by the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) and NYC Small Business Services (SBS)was launched on June 16 at Queensborough Community College (QCC). This innovative program aims to equip New Yorkers with the skills needed to thrive in the city’s dynamic creative economy.
The academy, offered at no cost, will be available at several City University of New York (CUNY) colleges, including QCCKingsborough Community College (KCC)and Hunter College. The program features a comprehensive training portfolio covering audio productiongraphic artsdigital content creationand more, with a focus on job placements in respective fields.
Initial Course Offerings and Training Details
The Made in NY Media Academy will kick off with three specialized bootcamps. The Music Production Bootcamp at QCC, starting on September 15will provide a 10-week intensive training program combining music production techniques with hands-on studio experience. Graduates will receive support in securing employment in commercial recording studios, live venues, and broadcast networks.
The Content Creation Bootcamp at KCC, beginning on September 23will offer a seven-week deep dive into digital storytelling and multimedia production. This program will prepare students for roles in creative agencies and marketing departments, with dedicated career planning support.
The Graphic Design Bootcamp at Hunter College, starting in the fall, will span 11 weeks and provide over 100 hours of instruction. Participants will gain job-ready skills in industry-standard tools like Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, along with career-readiness training and paid micro-internships with NYC employers.
Support from City Officials and Industry Leaders
Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized the importance of the academy in opening doors to creative careers. “As we build an affordable New York City, we’re creating pathways to the good-paying jobs that will shape the future of art, media, and entertainment for the world,” he stated. Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su highlighted the program’s focus on providing free training on real industry equipment with job placement support.
The launch event at QCC featured a tour of the music facilities and a masterclass by Global Hip Hop Grammy Award-Winning Producer Kid Capriwho shared insights and encouraged participants to save their work regularly. “I enjoyed hanging out with everyone at Queensborough! Always remember to hit Control S,” he remarked.
MOME Commissioner Rafael Espinal noted that the academy represents a new way to train New Yorkers for opportunities in the city’s world-renowned creative industries. “Rather than focus on a single occupation, the Academy’s offerings will evolve in response to real-time labor market shifts and emerging demands across the media sector,” he said.
SBS Commissioner Kenny Minaya underscored New York City’s position as a global leader in art and culture. “By working directly with MOME, CUNY, and partners from film, television, radio, music production, graphic design, and digital content creation, Made in NY will both connect homegrown talent with jobs in the entertainment industry and equip them with the skills to thrive in an ever-changing environment,” he added.
Partnerships and Future Prospects
The Made in NY Media Academy is a collaborative effort involving CUNY colleges and industry partners. QCC President Christine Mangino expressed pride in the college’s music program, designed with career success in mind. “We are proud to partner with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and the NYC Department of Small Business Services on an initiative that connects students with industry-informed training aligned with the needs of employers in creative fields,” she said.
Kingsborough President Suri Duitch highlighted the program’s focus on providing work-ready skills and job placement assistance. “This free program, offered at Brooklyn’s community college in the borough so many New York City creatives call home, will provide the next generation of content creators with work-ready, foundational journalism skills, a professional portfolio, industry connections, and job placement assistance to help them succeed in today’s digital-first, creative economy,” she stated.
Hunter College President Nancy Cantor emphasized the importance of connecting academic study to professional practice. “That is precisely what the Made in New York Media Academy will do by tapping local talent while creating visible pathways to media careers. Hunter College is delighted to collaborate with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, our CUNY colleagues, and the industry partners in this initiative, pooling our expertise to cultivate the next generation of homegrown content creators in the media capital of the world,” she concluded.