SENATE STATE GOVERNMENT, WAGERING, TOURISM & HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 521

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 18, 2018

The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 521.

     This bill would require the New Jersey State Council on the Arts to establish an “Artist District” designation for municipalities or areas within municipalities, to establish criteria for the designation, and to work with the Division of Travel and Tourism to promote any Artist District as a destination for artists and visitors.

      A municipality which has been designated as an Artist District would have a unique opportunity to market its creative, diverse, entertaining, and other notable services and venues.

      The council would establish criteria required for a municipality or area within a municipality to be designated by the council as an Artist District, including the minimum number of art related services and venues, such as businesses, galleries, museums, organizations performance halls, studios, theaters, or other facilities, that must be located in the municipality or the area within the municipality.  An Artist District may also constitute a concentration of certain types of art, such as dance, literature or writing, film, music, or performing or visual arts, or types of services and venues.

      The council would designate no more than 25 municipalities or areas within municipalities as an Artist District.  The council would, within 60 calendar days, review and approve, approve with conditions, or reject an application for designation as an Artist District.

      Further, the council would, in consultation with the Division of Travel and Tourism, adopt guidance or standards for an Artist District to advertise, market, or promote itself as a destination for artists and visitors.  An Artist District may advertise or otherwise use its designation in accordance with the guidance or standards.   

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2018-2019 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.