Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

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

Massachusetts Percent for Art Program and the budget process

Tucked in an outside section of the approved Senate Budget was the language for a Percent for Art Program. It takes its inspiration from  the executive order that Governor Patrick signed last December, 2014 .
http://artistsunderthedome.org/malc/news/governor-patrick-signs-executive-order-support-public-art-across-commonwealth/

Stay tuned on how you can help support this language and other key amendments in the next phase of the budget process: the Conference Committee!

Massachusetts Percent for Art Program

SECTION 14. Chapter 7C of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following section:-

[blockquote align=”left” cite=”~SECTION 14. Chapter 7C of the General Laws”]…if construction or substantial renovation of state-owned buildings…is undertaken, a minimum of 0.5 per cent of the cost of that construction…shall be dedicated to the preservation of existing public art and the creation of new public art.[/blockquote]Section 73. (a) There shall be a Massachusetts percent for art program, or MPAP, to be administered by the public art commission established in subsection (c).  The MPAP shall provide for the creation and preservation of existing public art in the city of Boston and municipalities designated as gateway municipalities under section 3A of chapter 23A.  Under this program, if construction or substantial renovation of state-owned buildings and properties is undertaken, a minimum of 0.5 per cent of the cost of that construction or substantial renovation, not to exceed $250,000, shall be dedicated to the preservation of existing public art and the creation of new public art.

(b) The secretary of administration and finance may temporarily suspend the MPAP spending requirement set forth in subsection (a) in any year in which the consensus tax revenue forecast, determined under section 5B of chapter 29, is less than the prior year.

(c) There shall be a public art commission which shall administer the MPAP by: (i) making curatorial decisions on a project-by-project basis in coordination with members of the commonwealth’s artist community who demonstrate distinguished service to the arts; (ii) consulting with pertinent local art and cultural commissions; (iii) promoting and encouraging public art; and (iv) coordinating with the executive department to ensure compliance with and participation in the MPAP.  The commission may also research other funding mechanisms that may increase the total pool of funds for public art and suggest the development of programming for education and promotion regarding public art.  All state agencies within the executive department shall cooperate with and provide assistance to the commission as necessary.

(d) The commission shall consist of the following 14 members: the secretary of administration and finance or a designee; the secretary of housing and economic development or a designee; the commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance or a designee; the secretary of energy and environmental affairs or a designee; the chair of the Massachusetts cultural council or a designee; a representative recommended by the mayor of the city of Boston; and 8 persons to be appointed by the governor, 2 of whom shall be representatives from municipalities designated as gateway municipalities under section 3A of chapter 23A who shall be selected from individuals recommended by the chief executive officer of any such municipality, 2 of whom shall be project designers with experience in the creation and installation of public art, 2 of whom shall be artists or representatives from nonprofit or community organizations associated with the arts and 2 of whom the governor otherwise deems appropriate but who do not possess the foregoing qualifications.  The commission shall annually elect 1 of its members to serve as chair.  Commission members shall serve without compensation or reimbursement for expenses.

(e) The commission shall meet at such times and places as directed by the chair.

(f) The commissioner of capital asset management and maintenance shall appoint an MPAP coordinator who shall report to the commissioner.  In coordination with the commission and any other agencies as the commissioner may deem appropriate, the coordinator shall, without limitation: (i) recommend the guidelines and parameters for the MPAP; (ii) research other successful funding mechanisms that increase the total pool of funds for public art; and (iii) oversee the creation of a central entity to host a variety of shared resources relating to the implementation, installation, maintenance and preservation of public art.

(g) Annually, not later than September 1, the commission shall provide a report to the governor, the secretary of administration and finance and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives describing the actions of the MPAP and the commission and any other information the commission deems pertinent.