On April 26, 1926, the Dramatists Guild achieved a groundbreaking victory with the negotiation of the Minimum Basic Agreement: the contract that set the industry precedent that allowed for authorial ownership of copyright, no changes in text without permission, the right to be present, and so much more.

At the Dramatists Guild Awards on Monday, April 27, 2026, we were humbled to celebrate the centennial of this achievement with a Proclamation from Mayor Zohran Mamdani enshrining the day as the Dramatist Guild's Minimum Basic Agreement Day. 

The full text of the Proclamation can be found below:

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF NEW YORK

Proclamation

Whereas, you cannot tell the story of New York without acknowledging the cultural institutions that have shaped it. A standout among them is the Dramatists Guild of America (DG), which has roots dating back to 1912 and was founded in 1919 as a national trade association of theater composers, librettists, lyricists, and playwrights. Today, I am pleased to join this esteemed organization as it celebrates the 100th anniversary of the signing of its first enforceable contract, known as the Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA).

Whereas, DG was formed after a group of playwrights, among them George S. Kaufman, Moss Hart, and Eugene O’Neill, gathered in Manhattan to discuss ways to address unfair practices, earn better compensation, and maintain control of their intellectual property, Its first major accomplishment happened on April 26, 1926, when it successfully negotiated the MBA with producers from Broadway and beyond. This groundbreaking contract called for authorial ownership of copyright; no changes in text without permission; approvals over artistic collaborators; right to be present at casting, rehearsals, previews, and performances; and control over dispositions of subsidiary rights, including film rights.

Whereas, Although the MBA has evolved over the decades and is now called the Approved Production Contract (APC), it remains a vital tool in safeguarding both the artistic and economic integrity of guild members' work, including the right to be paid reasonable options,
advances, and royalties. I applaud everyone associated with DG for their commitment to unite and empower our diverse theater community and shape the history of American performing arts. Our Administration is taking bold steps to ensure the Big Apple remains a place where artists can afford to live, thrive, and create, and we are grateful to everyone affiliated with the guild for their solidarity in these efforts. Together, we look forward to the many ways the MBA's impactful legacy will continue to make a positive difference for generations to come.

Now therefore, I, Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Mayor of the City of New York, do hereby proclaim Monday, April 27th, 2026, in the City of New York as:

Dramatists Guild of America's Minimum Basic Agreement Day

Signed: 
Zohran Kwame Mamdani
Mayor