For arts and cultural organizations in New York City, many of which plan their upcoming seasons’ lineup and budgets years in advance, the recession hit quickly and devastatingly. Endowments plummeted. Donations from major funding sources fell. Membership numbers slumped.

As a result, New York’s arts and cultural organizations and their financial backers have started initiatives aimed at saving current seasons and securing a stable path for the arts in the city. On Sept. 30, Crain’s New York Business brought a one-day symposium to the Columbia campus titled “The Future of New York City: New York’s Performing Arts at a Crossroads,” which was cohosted by the School of the Arts.