13-R337

2013 -- H 6142

Enacted 06/18/13

J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO ESTABLISH THE RHODE ISLAND "STATE OF THE ARTS" PLANNING TASK FORCE

Introduced By: Representatives Fox, Ruggiero, McNamara, Ferri, and Ajello

Date Introduced: May 21, 2013

     WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s nonprofit arts organizations have earned both national and

international distinction and account for an impressive amount of economic activity, with

spending in 2009 of the 1,163 arts and cultural organizations amounting to over $324 million and

jobs for nearly 5,200 people; and

     WHEREAS, The arts community greatly enhances Rhode Island’s tourism industry and

includes critical auxiliary industries such as design and visual arts that are crucial to the success

of the state’s knowledge economy; and

     WHEREAS, According to a 2011 study commissioned by the New England Foundation

for the Arts (NEFA), in aggregate, every $1.00 spent by a Rhode Island nonprofit arts and

cultural organization became $2.10 in sales for business in Rhode Island, and every job provided

by a Rhode Island nonprofit arts and cultural organization became 1.5 jobs for workers across the

state; and

     WHEREAS, There is a growing consensus within education and economic development

policy to expand our current national educational emphasis from “STEM” learning (shorthand for

science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) to “STEAM,” adding an “A” for Arts to

further encourage creativity and innovation in the next generation; and

     WHEREAS, It is essential that Rhode Island will examine all available opportunities to

position, brand, market, and expand Rhode Island’s creative sector to ensure the state remains

competitive both nationally and internationally; and

     WHEREAS, On February 11th, the Governor, the Senate, and the House of

Representatives convened the 2013 Arts Charrette, with over 100 attendees representing

government, nonprofits, businesses, academia, and private citizens that developed a shared vision

to position Rhode Island as the nation’s first distinctive “State of the Arts”; and

     WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes and supports the recommendations from

the Charrette to foster a vibrant arts economy through marketing and branding statewide, to

examine opportunities to capitalize and expand the arts tax incentives, and to further imbed arts

with academia. These recommendations will require a concerted effort of public-private

partnerships; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence

Plantations hereby respectfully requests the Governor to establish the Rhode Island “State of the

Arts” Strategic Planning Task Force comprised of appropriate individuals, including

representatives of the Rhode Island Council on the Arts and the RI Economic Development

Corporation; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Rhode Island State of the Arts Task Force shall develop a

comprehensive strategic plan, including specific action steps and identified responsible parties for

said action steps, for the state of Rhode Island to attract, retain, support, expand, and market the

arts and associated creative industries in Rhode Island. Such strategic plan shall include, but not

be limited to, recommendations regarding:

     (1) Increasing awareness and visibility of the arts;

     (2) Facilitating increased cooperation and interaction among private businesses and

members of the arts community;

     (3) Ensuring the future growth of arts in Rhode Island, including partnerships to increase

education, participation, and exposure to the arts among children and young adults; and

     (4) Identifying public-private funding options to encourage, expand, and sustain

investments in the arts; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report its findings and recommendations to the

Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later

then March 13, 2014 and said Task Force shall expire on May 15, 2014; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Governor.

=======

LC02632

=======