Amends chapter 624 of 2007 relating to establishing a pilot grant program to help working artists secure shared use facilities, in relation to extending the effectiveness thereof

1 Co-sponsor

• Velmanette Montgomery

BILL NUMBER:S6821

Title of bill

An act to amend chapter 624 of the laws of 2007 amending the arts and cultural affairs law relating to establishing a pilot grant program to help working artists secure shared use facilities, in relation to extending the effectiveness thereof

Summary of specific provisions

This bill amends chapter 624 of 2007 relating to establishing a pilot grant program to help working artists secure residency at a shared-use facility. It extends the current law for four years to December 31, 2016 which would allow New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to establish a grant program to support working artists.

It would allow the NYSCA to develop a pilot grant program, to be conducted in the cities of Syracuse, Rochester, Kingston and New York, for the purpose of providing limited financial assistance for working artists to secure residency at a "shared-use facility." It also establishes a grant to assist artists in establishing or maintaining existing shared-use facilities.

Justification

While the arts may affect each of our lives differently, the benefits are all-encompassing. The creative class plays a vital role in economic development, tourism, historic preservation and cultural education. With the continued decline of the manufacturing sector, the arts community has been helping to revitalize urban and rural communities throughout New York State by living and working in neighborhoods long-abandoned by the mainstream business community.

Artists frequently seek out abandoned industrial and manufacturing centers to live and practice their craft, in part due to the low cost of renting space in such areas. However, many of these areas are being transformed into thriving residential neighborhoods, which in turn has driven up the cost of living and working in these areas. The escalation in real estate values threatens the economic viability of the arts community in New York, forcing artists to move to more affordable areas in other parts of the country. Allowing such trends to continue threatens New York's stature as a world leader in arts and entertainment.

This bill seeks to reverse such trends, by assisting artists in seeking an affordable place to live and work, thereby preserving the arts community in New York and the economic benefit in commerce and tourism generated by this valuable New York resource.

Prior legislative history

2007-08: A.5202-A - Chapter 624 2006: A.11596 - Referred to Tourism, Arts and Sports Development

Fiscal implications

Subject to appropriation thereafter.

Effective date

This shall take effect immediately and shall expire December 31, 2016.