Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Arts Advocacy Update XXXVIII

I'm so pleased that I'm finally caught up with these! Thanks for being patient with me, folks.

The content below is from Americans for the Arts' Cultural Policy Listserv, email blast of April 16, 2008:

New York Times, 4/12/2008
The New York Innovative Theater Foundation has published "what is intended to be the first of several studies of Off Off Broadway economics. . . . The foundation next wants to explore Off Off Broadway’s demographics and, after that, to develop an economic impact study."
I chair the honorary IT Awards and I couldn't be more thrilled that this study has come out. Read more here.



Creative incentives sought to entice creative types
MLive.com (MI) - Capital News Service, 4/11/2008
"Michigan's artists, painters and sculptors may find more green on their palettes if new legislation providing tax credits for artists and businesses that support them passess. Tax exemptions for art supplies, property tax breaks and incentives for landlords who rent to artists are all part of an effort to encourage creative types to stay in the state, according to John Bracey, executive director of the state Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs."
Am I the only person bothered by the use of the phrase "creative types" in the headline?



Porn tax bill to be pulled, claimed to be linked to film incentive legislation
Times Daily (Florence, AL), 4/10/2008
"The House sponsor of a bill that would tax pornography said Thursday he's pulling his bill because it was linked to film industry incentive legislation. . . . Williams said the linkage creates a potential conflict of interest for him because the film industry bill is supported by his wife, a University of Alabama film professor."
Um, yeah. Way to go, Alabama.



With an Eye on Connecticut, Filmmakers Get a Tax Break in New York
New York Times, 4/11/2008
"After watching neighboring states raise their film tax credits to lure film production, New York State has moved to triple its tax incentive — to 30 percent — under the budget approved this week by the State Legislature. State and county officials, as well as representatives of the film industry, cheered the increase, saying it put New York back in the running with Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and other states that had expanded their film incentives."
Race to the bottom, that's what I've always said about this. What we need is a standardized regional incentive system -- but not a national one.

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