Report Title:

State Foundation on Culture and the Arts; Appropriation

Description:

Increases the Hawaii state foundation on culture and the arts' general fund appropriation to demonstrate strong legislative support for the importance of culture and the arts in Hawaii.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1699

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2005

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to CULTURE AND THE ARTS.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The Hawaii state foundation on culture and the arts biennium grants program is the largest source of public funding for arts programming in the State. As Hawaii's state arts agency, the Hawaii state foundation on culture and the arts allocates general funds from the state legislature and federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and the state department of human services in support of cultural, artistic, historical, and humanitarian programs in the community. Funds are disbursed statewide.

Projects receiving state grants benefit our communities in the following ways:

(1) They provide access to the arts for residents and visitors alike; accessibility is especially vital to people on the neighbor islands;

(2) Organizations are aided in their capacity to establish themselves and thrive in their communities;

(3) The arts and cultures of Hawaii's ethnic groups, in particular the arts and culture of native Hawaiians, are preserved and perpetuated for future generations;

(4) The quality of arts programming, including for example concerts, performances, exhibitions, festivals, and readings, is higher when subsidies are obtained;

(5) Government funds are important in leveraging private and corporate support for arts and cultural organizations;

(6) Cultural tourism efforts are enhanced, promoted, and produced; and

(7) The opportunity to host venues for artists of national and international stature is important to cultivate young audiences and to develop young talent.

In recent years, the Hawaii state foundation on culture and the arts biennium grants program has provided approximately $1,200,000 to Hawaii's culture and arts organizations, despite continuing restrictions to its general fund appropriation. Research has shown that due to the cutbacks, the grants program is now able to award approximately one-third of the funds necessary to fully support community efforts.

The purpose of this Act is to increase the Hawaii state foundation on culture and the arts' general fund appropriation to demonstrate strong legislative support for the importance of culture and the arts in Hawaii's communities and the quality of life of Hawaii's people.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $2,000,000, or so much thereof as maybe necessary for the fiscal year 2005-2006, and the sum of $2,081,939, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, to support the Hawaii state foundation on culture and the arts biennium grants program to sustain and develop vital community programming in culture, the arts, history, and the humanities for the people of Hawaii.

SECTION 3. The sums appropriated shall be expended by the department of accounting and general services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2005.

INTRODUCED BY:

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