Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill into law yesterday that allows communities to create state-sponsored cultural districts to stimulate new arts and cultural activity and attract creative businesses.
The law directs the Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) to create a new program that designates local districts to “attract artists and cultural enterprises to a community, encourage business and job development, establish tourist destinations, preserve and reuse historic buildings, enhance property values and foster local cultural development.”
The legislation includes no new funds for MCC, so the cultural districts program will offer no grants or other financial rewards to communities, at least in its first year. It directs MCC to work with other state government agencies to “identify state incentives and resources to enhance cultural districts.” The MCC will work over the coming months to create guidelines for the program with input from those agencies, the cultural community, and the broader public.
“We’ve seen many examples of how arts and culture help to revitalize our communities,” said Representative John Keenan of Salem, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Cultural Development. “A cultural district will be one more tool that cities and towns can employ in these efforts.”
The Joint Committee’s Co-Chair, Sonia Chang-Díaz of Boston, added: “The creative sector is a major source of strength for the Massachusetts economy, and contributes to the vitality of the Boston neighborhoods that I represent. So I’m delighted that we now have one more way to help this sector grow and thrive.”
Rep. Keenan spearheaded the cultural districts provision in the House with support from Reps. Steve Walsh of Lynn, Ann-Margaret Ferrante of Gloucester, and Kay Khan and Ruth Balser of Newton. It was championed in the Senate by Sens. Stan Rosenberg of Amherst, Chang-Díaz, and Benjamin Downing of Pittsfield.
“With cultural districts, MCC will have another tool in its toolbox to help cities and towns develop their cultural assets for the benefit of residents and visitors alike,” said Anita Walker, MCC Executive Director. “We thank Governor Patrick, Co-Chairs Chang-Díaz and Keenan, and their colleagues in the Legislature, for recognizing the role of arts and culture in improving the health and well being of our communities.”
