PRINTER'S NO. 801
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
818
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY SIMS, GUENST, HILL-EVANS, SCHLOSSBERG, SANCHEZ,
A. DAVIS, GUZMAN, DAVIDSON, CIRESI, ISAACSON, KINKEAD AND
NEILSON, MARCH 8, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON URBAN AFFAIRS, MARCH 8, 2021
AN ACT
Establishing the Public Arts Grant Program and the Public Arts
Fund; conferring powers and imposing duties on the Department
of Community and Economic Development; and making an
appropriation.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Public Arts
Grant Program Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Community organization." A nonprofit organization that
partners with artists in a city of the first class with an
established goal and purpose to improve their community.
"Department." The Department of Community and Economic
Development of the Commonwealth.
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"Fund." The Public Arts Fund established under section 4.
"Program." The Public Arts Grant Program established under
section 3.
Section 3. Public Arts Grant Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Public Arts Grant Program is
established within the department.
(b) Powers and duties of department.--The department shall
provide grants under the program in accordance with this act to
community organizations and artists for the creation of public
art that is free and accessible to the public and depicts or
benefits historically marginalized communities.
Section 4. Public Arts Fund.
(a) Establishment.--The Public Arts Fund is established as a
separate account in the State Treasury. The fund shall be
administered by the department to provide grants under the
program.
(b) Continuing appropriation.--Money in the fund is
appropriated on a continuing basis to the department for
purposes of the program.
Section 5. Applications.
(a) Development and availability.--Grant application forms
shall be developed by the department and made available on the
department's publicly accessible Internet website.
(b) Contents of form.--At a minimum, the grant application
form shall contain the following information:
(1) The name, address and contact information of the
community organization or artist.
(2) The amount of grant money requested.
(3) A detailed description of the proposed public art
installation, including murals, sculptures, statues and
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temporary public art installations.
(4) An explanation of how the proposed public art
installation will be free to the public and how the public
will be able to access the proposed public art installation
produced with the grant money.
(5) Proof of any permits required by a city of the first
class or permission or permits from another government
entity, including a school district or political subdivision.
(6) A timeline of the proposed public art installation,
including a proposed completion date.
(7) Any other information that the department deems
necessary and appropriate.
(c) Compliance.--The department shall verify in writing on
each grant application that the application complies with all
requirements under section 6.
Section 6. Requirements.
The following shall apply:
(1) Grants shall be awarded by the department to
eligible community organizations and artists who have been
approved by the department.
(2) Grants may only be given to community organizations'
headquarters within a city of the first class.
(3) Proposed public art installations must be completed
within three years of the award of the grant. If a proposed
public art installation is not completed within three years,
the department may take action to retrieve the awarded grant.
The department may grant a one-year extension to a proposed
art installation if the project experienced delays not the
fault of the community organization or artist.
Section 7. Administration.
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The department shall develop guidelines for the
implementation of the program.
Section 8. Award of grants.
(a) General rule.--The department shall award grants to
eligible community organizations and artists who have been
approved by the department.
(b) Amount.--Grant amounts may not exceed a maximum of
$100,000 for each community organization or artist approved by
the department.
Section 9. Appropriation.
The sum of $1,000,000 is appropriated to the fund from the
General Fund to carry out the purposes of this act.
Section 10. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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