(TRENTON) – In an effort to encourage New Jersey’s art initiatives, Assembly Democrats Raj Mukherji, Angela McKnight and Nicholas Chiaravalloti bill (A-3832) allowing municipalities to establish an annual funding dedication to arts and culture though public question was approved by the full Assembly Thursday 45-30-0. The sponsors issued the following statement on the bill:
“The arts and our creative economy are vital to our urban communities, to the state’s cultural identity, and to the overall economy, contributing nearly $520 million annually,” said Mukherji (D-Hudson), a card carrying member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA). “This legislation will allow voters to decide if their municipalities should create a dedicated source of funding for the arts and provide much needed stability for additional programming and local venues.”
“From the performing arts to individual artists to children’s art programs in our schools, there are many who would benefit from the additional funding,” said McKnight (D-Hudson). “If our residents want their tax-dollars going towards boosting New Jersey’s arts and culture then this is absolutely something we should encourage.”
“Municipalities often lack a recurring funding source for the arts,” said Chiaravalloti (D-Hudson). “This legislation aims to give residents the ability to choose whether some of their tax dollars will be devoted to the New Jersey arts.”
The bill was initially approved by the Assembly Appropriations panel on Monday, Jan. 28 and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.