Governor Signs Cryan-Stack Bill for Municipal Funding for the Arts

Trenton – The Governor today signed into law legislation authored by Senator Joe Cryan and Senator Brian Stack that would enable municipalities to support arts programs and facilities local governments with dedicated funding.

The law, S-2459/A-3832, will allow municipal governments to seek voter approval for a tax levy to generate funding dedicated to arts and culture.

“The arts make important contributions to the economy, to education and to the quality of life,” said Senator Cryan. “Theaters, museums and other cultural attractions and activities are significant parts of local communities. They are good for business and they are meaningful expressions of a community’s cultural identity. This will give local residents the ability to authorize dedicated funding to support the arts in their home communities.”

“The greatest works of art in history were funded by others in order to promote their culture. New Jersey’s culture has so much to offer that people are unaware of, and I believe we have an opportunity to promote it to expand our tourism industry,” said Senator Stack (D-Hudson). “Providing assistance to the arts will allow us to support and sponsor local artists to expand their work and expose many New Jersey residents and tourists to our culture and the works of art our artists create.”

The law authorizes municipalities to adopt ordinances allowing the establishment of an annual tax levy dedicated to support arts and culture, if approved by a majority of voters through a public question. Revenue raised by the levy would be deposited into an “arts and culture fund” created by the municipalities.

The law defines “arts and culture” to include performing, visual, and fine arts, music, dance, graphic design, film, digital media and video, architecture, humanities, literature, arts education, historic preservation, museum curation, crafts, and folk arts, among other creative activities.