Debate on arts-and-culture grants: legislator raises concern over funding levels versus 2015

Jim Dennis, chair of the Budget, Capital and Personnel Committee, moved a resolution to award 2017 arts-and-cultural organizational development grants. Legislator Dan Klein objected to apparent cuts compared with 2015 funding levels and urged the legislature to consider restoring support for long-standing organizations.

"What this resolution is doing is proposing cuts to a number of our arts and cultural organizations... These are our long established... organizations," Klein said, arguing that more of the growing room-tax revenues should be directed to established arts groups. Dennis and other members said the 2017 numbers largely mirror 2016 allocations and that program guidelines and additions of new organizations affected distributions.

Committee discussion covered administrative costs, contract language and the role of STPB and Community Arts Partnership in reviews. Legislators agreed to follow up with presentations by STPB staff to clarify history and allocation logic; the resolution passed after discussion.