BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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Date of Hearing: May 3, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS, TOURISM, AND
INTERNET MEDIA
Kansen Chu, Chair
ACR 124
(Calderon) - As Introduced January 21, 2016
SUBJECT: Arts Council: 40th anniversary.
SUMMARY: Would declare the importance of the arts to the state
and the essential role of the Arts Council in promoting the arts
throughout the state, and would congratulate the Arts Council on
40 years of service to the state and honor the Art Council's
rich history and celebrate a bright future for the arts in our
state. Specifically, this Resolution makes the following
findings:
1)Our state arts agency, the California Arts Council, was
established by Governor Edmund G. Brown and came into being on
January 1, 1976.
2)Governor Brown created the California Arts Council on the
basis that the arts are central to the lives of Californians.
3)Since the 1970s, the Arts Council, also known as the
California Arts Council, has served the state by strategically
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promoting increased access to the arts for all Californians,
particularly for residents living in communities that lack
sufficient and convenient opportunities to experience the
benefits of the arts in their lives.
4)In 2016, California's state arts agency celebrates its 40th
anniversary. During its four decades of existence, the
California Arts Council has awarded thousands of grants with a
total investment of $368,000,000. California is home to more
artists than any other state, and the creative industries
account for one in 10 jobs statewide.
5)The arts are fundamental to our human experience. The arts
inspire us to see our human potential by fostering creativity,
goodness, and beauty. The arts help us express our values,
build bridges between cultures, and bring people together,
regardless of perceived differences in ethnicity, religion, or
age. As a well-known idiom reminds us, "When times are tough,
art is salve for the ache."
6)The arts invigorate the state and national economies. The
creative sector has become one of the state's most important
drivers of economic growth. The 2013 OTIS Report on the
Creative Economy, analyzing the economic impact of the
creative economy in the state, concluded that 9.7% of jobs in
the state are connected, directly or indirectly, to the
creative industries. A recent report by the U.S. Bureau of
Economic Analysis concluded that the arts and culture sector
represents 3.2% of the nation's gross domestic product in
2011.
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7)The arts bolster small and large businesses and the nonprofit
sector. Local merchants directly benefit when people attend
art events in their community because attendees make purchases
related to the event, including, among other things, meals and
parking. Nationally, in 2011, exports from the United States
of art-related goods, including, but not limited to, movies,
paintings, and jewelry, substantially increased and resulted
in a trade surplus within the arts industry. The national
nonprofit arts industry annually generates billions in
economic activity and provides millions of jobs.
8)The arts increase tourism and travel. Arts travelers are ideal
tourists, staying longer and spending more to seek out
authentic cultural experiences than other types of travelers.
Reports show that the percentage of international travelers
visiting museums and attending concerts and theater
performances have steadily grown since 2003.
9)The arts spark creativity and innovation in the workforce.
Creativity is recognized as one of the top five applied
employee skills sought by business leaders. Nobel Laureates in
the sciences are 17 times more likely to be actively engaged
in the arts than other scientists.
10)The arts enhance our society. A recent study demonstrated
that a high concentration of the arts in a city leads to
higher civic engagement, more social cohesion, improved child
welfare, and lower poverty rates. A vibrant arts community
ensures that young people are not left to experience their
society through a pop culture and tabloid marketplace.
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11)The arts improve health care. Nearly one-half of the nation's
health care institutions provide arts programming for
patients, families, and staff on the basis that art programs
promote healing in patients, resulting in shorter hospital
stays, better pain management, and less medication.
12)The arts improve academic performance. Students with an
education rich in the arts have higher grades and standardized
test scores and lower rates of dropping out of school.
Students with four years of arts or music in high school
average 100 more points on their SAT scores than students with
just one-half of a year of arts or music. While arts education
is mandated by state law, California is failing to provide a
sufficient arts education. For the past 30 years arts
education in schools has been disappearing at an alarming
rate. Between 1999 and 2004, student enrollment in music
education declined by almost half. The state's recent fiscal
crisis has resulted in still more dramatic cuts to visual and
performing arts education programs for students throughout the
state.
FISCAL EFFECT: None. This Resolution is keyed non-fiscal by the
Legislative Counsel.
COMMENTS:
1)Author statement and support: The California Arts Council has
been exceptional for 40 years. In celebrating the 40th
anniversary of the California Arts Council, Governor Brown
offered the following comments, "As Governor in 1976, I
created the California Arts Council on the basis that the arts
are central to the lives of Californians. Government
investment in the arts is critical to support the expression
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of new ideas and cultural diversity across our society. The
arts and creativity play a key role in ensuring California
remains a vibrant, thriving state to live in and visit-our
state's artists and creative communities are among the many
features that make California so unique. On the occasion of
the California Arts Council's 40th anniversary, I congratulate
the artists, organizations, Council members, staff, and all
those whose dedication and creativity has contributed to the
success and growth of our state."
According to the author, "During its four decades of
existence, the California Arts Council has awarded thousands
of grants- a total investment of $368 million, California is
home to more artists than any other state, and the creative
industries account for 1 in 10 jobs statewide. But citing mere
numbers does not give a sense of how this investment 'paid
off' in California, where dollar amounts large and small have
transformed blight into beauty, stagnation into change, and
hopelessness into inspiration. The California Arts Council's
grantees and partners-past and present-carry with them
countless stories of community transformation, social
prosperity, cultural exchange, individual discovery, and
educational growth. As this Resolution says, the arts are
fundamental to our human experience. The arts inspire us to
see our human potential by fostering creativity, goodness, and
beauty. The arts help us express our values, build bridges
between cultures, and bring people together, regardless of
perceived differences in ethnicity, religion, or age."
The California Arts Council, the Resolution's sponsor, adds
the following, "Many things have changed about this agency
over the past four decades-from our size too our programs-but
one thing remains true to this day: the California Arts
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Council has heart. Your state arts agency has passion, vision,
and affection for the places and people of California-for our
artists, our communities, our many cultures-and takes pride in
working hard to serve every part of this golden state."
2)Prior legislation: ACR 46 (Calderon), Resolution Chapter 152,
2015, declared the importance of the arts to the state and the
essential role of the Arts Council in promoting the arts
throughout the state, and urged a unified effort between the
Legislature and the Governor to provide a substantial increase
in the General Fund appropriation to the California Arts
Council.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees,
AFL-CIO
California Alliance for Arts Education
California Arts Advocates
California Arts Council
Opposition
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There is no opposition on file
Analysis Prepared by:Dana Mitchell / A.,E.,S.,T., & I.M. / (916)
319-3450