ASSEMBLY, No. 2801

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

217th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 16, 2016

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  RALPH R. CAPUTO

District 28 (Essex)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Requires NJ State Council on Arts to establish "Artist District" designation and select certain municipalities or areas within municipalities for such designation.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

 


An Act concerning the establishment of an "Artist District" designation and supplementing P.L.1996, c.214 (C.52:16A-25 et seq.).

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    a.  In addition to the powers and responsibilities provided under any other law, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts shall establish an "Artist District" designation for a municipality or an area within a municipality.

     b.    The council shall 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 of the municipality.  An Artist District may also constitute a concentration of certain types of art, such as dance, film, literature or writing, music, or performing or visual arts, or types of services and venues.  The council shall designate no more than 25 municipalities or areas within municipalities as an Artist District.

     c.     A municipality may apply to the council for designation as an Artist District or for designation of an area within the municipality as an Artist District.  A municipality shall apply to the council for the designation on a standard form created by the council and made available on the council's Internet site.

     d.    After receipt of an application for designation as an Artist District, the council shall, within 60 calendar days, review and approve, approve with conditions, or reject the application.

     e.     The council shall, 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.

 

     2.    This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     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.