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 a transfer.

PRINTER'S NO. 478
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 489
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY WAXMAN, SANCHEZ, KHAN, HILL-EVANS, HOHENSTEIN,
HARKINS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, POWELL, BELLMON, OTTEN AND GREEN,
FEBRUARY 5, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, RECREATION AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT, FEBRUARY 5, 2025
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 a transfer.
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 who reside in this Commonwealth 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 in
the State Treasury.
(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.--The department shall
develop grant application forms and make the forms 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
temporary public art installations.
(4) An explanation of how the proposed public art
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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 permit required by a municipality or
permission or permit 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) Other information the department deems necessary and
appropriate.
(c) Compliance.--The department shall determine whether a
grant application complies with all requirements under section 6
and provide the determination in writing to the person that
submitted the application.
Section 6. Requirements.
(a) Duties of department.--The department shall:
(1) Award grants to eligible community organizations and
artists that have been approved by the department.
(2) Award grants only to community organizations'
headquarters in this Commonwealth.
(b) Time period for completion.--
(1) The community organization or artist that is awarded
a grant shall complete the public art installations within
three years of the award of the grant.
(2) If a proposed public art installation is not
completed within three years, the department may take action
to recover the awarded grant.
(3) 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.
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Section 7. Administration.
The department shall develop guidelines for the
implementation of the program.
Section 8. Award of grants.
A grant amount may not exceed a maximum of $100,000 for the
community organization or artist approved by the department.
Section 9. Interfund transfer.
Within 60 days of the effective date of this section, the sum
of $10,000,000 shall be transferred from the General Fund to the
Public Arts Fund.
Section 10. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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