By Serena Solomon
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Dozens of artists are expected to turn out in Chelsea Friday morning for a Department of Parks and Recreation hearing on its proposal to tighten rules for artistic vendors operating in city parks.
The department is planning to cap the number of artists who set up shop outside such places as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Union Square, arguing that the number of artists selling their work is causing a congestion problem. Artists have defended their use of city parks, siting first amendment rights to freely sell their work in public places.
Since the Parks Department released its plan Robert Lederman, president of A.R.T.I.S.T, an advocacy group representing 2,000 members, has been rallying the resistance.
"More then 300 members have joined my groups and it has literally radicalized the existing members," said Lederman. He said artistic vendors will protest at Friday's hearing and are ready to present their case.
The proposed rules, which could take effect as early as late May, would limit the number of artists to 24 outside the Met, 12 for Union Square, and nine for Battery Park. The High Line, Columbus Circle and Wein Walk, near the Central Park Zoo, would also have limits. The rationed spots would be given out each day to artists who arrive first.
Another proposed regulation would keep artistic vendors 50 feet from monuments or public art installations.
These rules, however, all impinge on first amendment rights, according to Liberman.
The discussion has also made it through some community boards in Manhattan. The parks committees of Community Boards 2, 6 and 7 have all voted to support the Parks Department's rule change.
"The streets are too crowded, and some feel that some of the art work is not really artwork," said Barbara Rudder, a co-chair of CB 8's Parks Committee.
The committee's meeting on April 15 attracted many strong opinions from either side. Some artists argued for their rights and defended their need to sell their work. Other artists supported the rule change and spoke against those who sell mass-produced art on the city's streets that they didn't create.
A public hearing on the proposed rules will be held April 23 at Chelsea Recreation Center, 430 W. 25th St., at 11 a.m.
