Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

Artists leaders and artist-run groups addressing policy issues that affect artists in Massachusetts

Call for Written Testimony for MA Bill H.3291, An Act establishing a tax credit for artist work space

Tomorrow, June 30, there is a hearing for Bill H.3291, “An Act establishing a tax credit for artist work space”, at the Massachusetts State House in Boston. This hearing, like all legislative hearings,  is free and open to the public. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and to testify. The bill was filed by Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante of Gloucester
https://malegislature.gov/People/Profile/AMF1

The hearing info:
Tues. June 30th at 10:00 am in Room B-1

Link to the H.3291:
https://malegislature.gov/Bills/BillHtml/143654?generalCourtId=12

It is being heard by the Joint Committee on Revenue.
https://malegislature.gov/Committees/Joint/J26

From our Gloucester MALC members:

“Thanks to Rep. Ann Margaret Ferrante for her endless work and support of the arts workforce and industry in Gloucester, Cape Ann and the Commonwealth. Workspace for Artists has been a number one issue of our industry for many years.”

[highlighter color=”light-blue”] If you can’t make the hearing, you are encouraged to send in written testimony. [/highlighter]

Written testimony should be emailed by Friday, July 3rd, 5pm to: Anthony.Sacco@mahouse.gov

Address your testimony as follows:

The Joint Committee on Revenue
Room 34 and Room 213B
State House
Boston, MA 02133

RE:  H3291  An Act establishing a tax credit for artist work space

Dear Chairman Senator Rodrigues, Chairman Representative Kaufman and Members of the Joint Committee,

Make sure you mention the bill number and name, H3291,  “An Act establishing a tax credit for artist work space”,  in your testimony. Also remember to include your full contact information and if you are a working artists (of any discipline).

————–

MALC is in support of this legislation

We will be sending in the following suggestions in our written testimony:

1) The Massachusetts Cultural Council should be one of the key state agencies tasked to work with DOR to come up with guidelines and regulations for use of these tax credits to ensure that the artist work spaces are affordable, of adequate size, and have working artists in them.

2) The legislation needs more clarification around how to define and regulate artist work spaces (i.e., are they work only spaces? or does this include live/work spaces? is there a minimum square footage for an artist work space? does the entire building have to be all  artist work spaces to qualify for the tax credit? etc.)

3) There needs to be a clear definition of what is meant by “artists” to ensure these spaces go to actual working artists.

Thus, there would need to be key regulations to ensure the tax credit is not used to create spaces artists can’t afford (high end commercial/industrial spaces or luxury lofts if “artist work spaces” includes live/work spaces).

4) The tax credits for artist work spaces should be expanded beyond Cultural Districts*.

a) Open the tax credit to those buildings/spaces that already have artist work spaces

b) Incentivize mixed residential / light industry zones that are in danger of being overwhelmed by high profit residential conversion

c) Open the tax credit to small building owners/mom & pop building owners (carefully defined)

*Some Cultural Districts are in very high priced areas and this legislation leaves out so many artists in other areas.