SB 1577: RELATING TO THE STATE FOUNDATION ON CULTURE AND THE ARTS.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to the state foundation on culture and the arts.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the mission of the state foundation on culture and the arts is to promote, perpetuate, preserve, and encourage culture and the arts as central to the quality of life and people of Hawaii.  One of the foundation's strategic priorities includes increasing public accessibility to arts and culture.

     The foundation administers the state art museum and the art in public places and relocatable works of art programs, using the works of art special fund created pursuant to section 103‑8.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, and also issues grants through its foundation grants program.  The museum and these programs aim to support, promote, and recognize the excellence of the State's diverse artists; create, display, and maintain in public places and the state art museum a collection of works of art that represent the diversity and excellence of the State's artistic expression; and provide the fullest possible access to the highest quality aesthetic and educational experiences available to all the citizens of the State.

     The legislature further finds that the performing arts also represent various mediums that express creativity through singing, dancing, theatre, and musical performances.  To ensure a wide range of artistic creativity and expression in the State, performing arts should also be recognized as a medium to provide Hawaii's people with creative, educational, and aesthetic performances that tell meaningful stories and provide engaging experiences.

     The purpose of this Act is to further the foundation's endeavors by:

     (1)  Establishing the performing arts grants program, under the foundation's existing foundation grant program, to support performing arts in the State;

     (2)  Clarifying the scope of the state foundation on culture and the arts' responsibilities to include the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events; and

     (3)  Appropriating funds to provide grants under the performing arts grants program.

     SECTION 2.  Chapter 9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part II to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§9-     Performing arts grants program.  (a)  There is established a performing arts grants program, to be placed in the foundation for administrative purposes, to provide grants for the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events.

     (b)  The foundation shall administer the performing arts grants program in accordance with this part.

     (c)  The foundation shall submit an annual report of performing arts grants awarded and the outcomes of each performing arts event that received a grant to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2026 and every regular session thereafter."

     SECTION 3.  Section 9-1, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By adding a new definition to be appropriately inserted and to read:

     ""Performing arts" includes arts or skills that are intended to be performed before an audience, including dance, singing, musical performances, and theatre."

     2.  By amending the definition of "arts" to read:

     ""Arts" includes music, dance, painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, drama, poetry, prose, crafts, industrial design, interior design, fashion design, photography, television, motion picture art, unique or decorative plants, landscaping, and all other performing arts and creative activity of imagination and beauty."

     SECTION 4.  Section 9-21, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "[[]§9-21[]]  Purpose.  The foundation shall administer the art in public places and relocatable works of art programs, pursuant to section 103-8.5, and the state art museum to achieve the following purposes:

     (1)  Replace in public state buildings the natural beauty displaced in construction with works of art expressive of the State's cultural, creative, and traditional arts of its various ethnic groups;

     (2)  Support, promote, and recognize excellence of the State's diverse cultural, creative, and traditional artists; [and]

     (3)  Create, display, and maintain in public places and the state art museum a collection of works of art, and coordinate, plan, promote, market, and execute performing arts events, that:

          (A)  [Represents] Represent the diversity and excellence of the State's artistic expression; and

          (B)  [Provides] Provide to all the citizens of the State the fullest possible access to the highest quality aesthetic and educational experiences available."

     SECTION 5.  Section 103-8.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended as follows:

     1.  By amending subsection (b) to read:

     "(b)  The works of art special fund shall be used solely for the following purposes:

     (1)  Costs related to the acquisition of works of art[,] and coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events, including any consultant or staff services required to carry out the art in public places and relocatable works of art programs;

     (2)  Site modifications, display, and interpretive work necessary for the exhibition of works of art[;] or for performing arts events;

     (3)  Upkeep services, including maintenance, repair, and restoration of works of art;

     (4)  Storing and transporting works of art."

     2.  By amending subsection (d) to read:

     "(d)  The comptroller and the state foundation on culture and the arts shall decide on the specific art objects to acquire[,] and specific performing arts events to coordinate, plan, promote, market, and execute, giving first consideration to placing appropriate pieces of art at the locations of the original appropriation.

     The selection of, commissioning artists for, reviewing of design, execution, [and] placement, coordination, planning, promotion, and marketing of, and the acceptance of works of art shall be the responsibility of the comptroller and the state foundation on culture and the arts in consultation with the affected agency or department.

     Expenditures from the works of art special fund shall be made by the comptroller."

     SECTION 6.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 to provide grants under the performing arts grants program.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the state foundation on culture and the arts for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 7.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 8.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

State Foundation of Culture and the Arts; Performing Arts Grants Program; Works of Art Special Fund; Appropriation

Description:

Establishes the Performing Arts Grants Program to support performing arts in the State.  Clarifies the scope of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts' responsibilities to include the coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events.  Allows the use of moneys from the Works of Art Special Fund for performing arts.  Appropriates funds to provide grants under the Performing Arts Grants Program.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.