GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1993

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 1193

Short Title:  N.C. Arts Council Funds.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Crawford; Alexander, Alphin, Arnold, Baddour, Barbee, Barnes, Beall, Berry, Black, Bowen, Bowie, Bowman, Braswell, Brawley, D. Brown, J. Brown, Brubaker, Burton, Church, Cole, Colton, Culp, Cummings, Cunningham, Daughtry, DeVane, Dickson, Dockham, Easterling, Edwards, Esposito, Fitch, Flaherty, Fussell, Gamble, Gardner, Gist, Gottovi, Grady, Gray, Green, Griffin, Hackney, Hall, Hensley, Hightower, Hill, Holmes, Holt, Jack Hunt, Judy Hunt, H. Hunter, R. Hunter, Ives, James, Jarrell, Jeffus, Jenkins, Joye, Justus, Kennedy, Kuczmarski, Lee, Luebke, Lutz, Mavretic, McAllister, McCombs, McCrary, McLaughlin, McLawhorn, Mercer, Michaux, B. Miller, G. Miller, Miner, Mitchell, Moore, Morgan, Nesbitt, Nichols, Nye, Oldham, C. Preston, J. Preston, Ramsey, Redwine, Richardson, Robinson, Rogers, Russell, Smith, Spears, Stamey, Stewart, Sutton, Tallent, G. Thompson, R. Thompson, Wainwright, Warner, Weatherly, Wilkins, Wilmoth, C. Wilson, P. Wilson, and Wright.
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Referred to:  Appropriations.
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April 26, 1993

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO THE NORTH CAROLINA ARTS COUNCIL TO IMPROVE STATE PROGRAMS IN THE ARTS.
Whereas, it is the mission of the North Carolina Arts Council, a Division of the Department of Cultural Resources, to enrich the cultural life of the State by nurturing and supporting excellence in the arts and by providing opportunities for every North Carolinian to experience the arts; and
Whereas, North Carolina has over 1700 arts organizations and nearly 8,000 artists spread across all 100 counties; and
Whereas, the arts are an essential component in the education and development of the children of the State and of our diverse communities; and
Whereas, the arts contribute to a healthy economy and are a proven, effective partner in downtown revitalization, in the State's efforts to attract new industry, and in the State's very important tourist industry; and
Whereas, a 1987 economic impact study determined that the arts generated $330 million in direct and indirect spending that year, and the number of arts organizations has increased by 36% since that time, leading to an estimated $449 million impact this year; and
Whereas, the Arts Council uses grants as catalysts to generate additional money for the arts, and every State dollar granted in the 1991-92 fiscal year was matched by nine non-State dollars; and
Whereas, the Arts Council awarded grants to 501 arts organizations and 344 other community groups in the 1991-92 fiscal year, reaching every county in the State; and
Whereas, 71½¢ per citizen is currently appropriated to the Arts Council, $1.00 per citizen is needed to meet the increasing demand for arts programs, and North Carolina's population will be over seven million by the end of the next biennium; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Cultural Resources, North Carolina Arts Council, the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 1993-94 fiscal year and the sum of two million dollars ($2,000,000) for the 1994-95 fiscal year for grants to local arts councils, galleries and museums, crafts guilds, literary presses and magazines, folk arts programs, dance, opera and theatre companies; and for individual artists; and for arts programs in the public schools, community colleges, universities, public libraries, historical organizations, parks and recreation departments, community service organizations, and public radio and television; and for organizational and program development including technical assistance, education and outreach activities; and for related administrative costs.  These funds shall be in addition to funds appropriated to the Department of Cultural Resources for the North Carolina Arts Council by the Current Operations Appropriations Act.
Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1993.