What's happening
This bill creates a process for designating state-supported arts and cultural districts in New York, providing them with resources and tourism promotion.
Why it matters
Establishes formal criteria and a transparent application process. for communities seeking state designation as arts and cultural districts, ensuring that only areas with significant potential or existing cultural assets can qualify and benefit.
Prioritizes state resources and assistance. such as help with grant applications, marketing, and access to other state programs—for these designated districts, giving them a competitive edge in attracting funding and support.
Creates incentives for collaboration across local governments. , allowing districts that span multiple municipalities to apply jointly, which may foster regional cultural development and shared economic benefits.
Requires ongoing evaluation and legislative reporting. , mandating that the Council on the Arts review the effectiveness of the program within a year and propose changes, ensuring that the initiative can be adjusted to maximize its impact on local economies, tourism, and cultural vibrancy.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Arts District Guidelines
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 29
History
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.125
- Referred to cultural affairs, tourism, parks and recreation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Create Arts District Guidelines
In Assembly Committee · Tourism, Parks, Arts And Sports Development · Sponsor Aileen Gunther
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1425
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sens. SERRANO, BAILEY, COMRIE, HOYLMAN, PARKER, PERSAUD -read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation
AN ACT to amend the arts and cultural affairs law and the economic development law, in relation to creating the arts and cultural district
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The arts and cultural affairs law is amended by adding a new section 3.17 to read as follows:
§ 3.17. Arts and cultural district. 1. The council shall develop criteria and guidelines for state designated arts and cultural districts and shall develop an application process for receiving such a designation. A district shall be defined as a geographic area of a city, town, or village with a concentration of arts or cultural facilities located within its boundaries. Criteria developed by the council to designate a district shall include determinations that such district: (a) attracts artists or cultural enterprises to the community, (b) encourages business and job development due to the pre-existing institutions, (c) attracts a sufficient amount of tourism, (d) enhances local property values and fosters local cultural development, or (e) has the potential to meet any of the categorical determinations if sufficient state support and assistance is provided to the proposed district. The council shall also develop guidelines that provide assistance to a city, town, or village in developing an application for district certification.
2. For any state designated arts and cultural district, the council and the urban development corporation shall provide state supported assistance to the district in its activities, including but not limited to technical assistance in applying for federal and non-profit grants, marketing expertise, identification of other state resources that may
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00417-01-9
S. 1425 2
assist a district's activities or programs that could be created or expanded within state agencies to assist districts.
3. For any grants or financial assistance provided pursuant to this article, the council shall provide the most favorable treatment allowable to an applicant located within a designated district.
4. Two or more local governments may jointly apply for a designated district where the proposed geographic area of such district shall extend across commonly held jurisdictional boundaries.
5. The council may accept or reject an application under this section and may propose amendments to the application in lieu of acceptance. Applicants shall be provided a response within ninety days of the receipt of the application, and any amendments to such an application shall be responded to within thirty days of receipt.
§ 2. Paragraphs 4 and 5 of subdivision (e) of section 168 of the economic development law are renumbered paragraphs 5 and 6 and a new paragraph 4 is added to read as follows:
(4) evaluate and make recommendations to support specific tourism promotion for any state designated arts and cultural district, as defined in section 3.17 of the arts and cultural affairs law;
§ 3. No later than three hundred sixty-five days after the effective date of this act, the council on the arts shall issue a report to the temporary president of the Senate, the speaker of the Assembly, and the chairs of the relevant legislative committees recommending any changes to any provisions of law that would effectuate the purpose of this act, including but not limited to providing additional state incentives and benefits, altering the application process, promoting additional tourism, and any other measures that would aid the operations of proposed and current arts and cultural districts.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the arts and cultural affairs law and the economic development law, in relation to creating the arts and cultural district
Purpose
Relates to developing criteria and guidelines for state designated arts and cultural districts
Summary of provisions
Requires the Council of the Arts to develop guidelines for state-desig- nated arts and cultural districts, which shall be designated as such upon application and approval if such a proposed district meets one of several criteria for economic development and positive community impact. A district may be within one municipality or cross municipal lines based upon the nature of the district. Once certified as a state-designated arts and cultural district, such districts shall receive various devel- opment opportunities, technical assistance, and marketing guidance. The New York Tourism Advisory Council shall also make recommendations for encouraging tourism specifically to state-designated arts and cultural districts.
Prior existing legislation
2017 - 2018: S3108 - Passed Senate. Delivered to Assembly - tourism, parks, arts and sports development
Justification
There are many areas within the state that have specific artistic or cultural value and appeal, including geographic areas with a concen- tration of art, artists, or general places of cultural significance. These clusters provide significant economic and quality of life value to the local community, or have the potential to do so if additional resources were available. This legislation would create a state-certi- fied "arts and cultural district" designation, allowing municipalities to apply for designation for areas of such clustering of art and cultural institutions and to receive state support. For a designated district, the Council of the Arts and the Empire State Development Corporation would provide, among other things, technical assistance in applying for grants, marketing expertise, guides for finding additional state resources, increased tourism opportunities, and other state resources and economic development opportunities.
By leveraging current state resources for these specialized districts, the state will help struggling municipalities benefit from their artis- tic and cultural strengths. Whether a concentration of museums, large number of artistic residences, or historic sites with artistic or cultural value, many municipalities have untapped potential, and the state should encourage the growth and development of these special plac- es.
Legislative history
2016: S6271A- Referred to Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks & Recreation; Passed Senate; Delivered to Assembly
Fiscal implications
Minimal. Most resources provided for would be based on pre-existing appropriations and grants.
Effective date
120 days after becoming a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.