MAINE SENATE
Office of the President
For Immediate Release - February 18, 2005
Senate President Edmonds requests Creative Economy bond issue
Senate President Beth Edmonds introduced her request for a $25million bond issue to support the Creative Economy in Maine at a news conference in the State House today.
Her request was underscored by needs information from a survey presented at the event by the Cultural Affairs Council of Maine.
The member agencies of the Cultural Affairs Council have conducted a statewide survey of the bricks and mortar needs of Maine’s cultural facilities. With 38 percent return on the survey, almost $340 million in capital needs from the state’s cultural facilities has been identified.
During a recent interview on Maine Public Radio, Governor Baldacci said that museums and theatres are economic anchors in Maine’s rural communities. This Bond issue seeks to support “bricks and mortar” renovation or construction of these cultural resources to make Maine’s downtowns more vibrant hubs for creative economic development.
This bond issue, also known as LD 756 seeks legislative endorsement, and ultimate citizen referendum approval, of the landmark $25 million bond issue for renovation, restoration and/or new construction of Maine’s cultural facilities – libraries, theatres, museums and more.
These funds are a means for the state to deliver creative economic development support for Maine’s communities through an established and effective program, in relatively short order.LD 756 would provide funding to meet some of these needs through the well-stablished New Century Community Program – a joint program of the Cultural Affairs Council agencies. The agencies include the Maine Arts Commission, Maine State Library, Maine State Archives, Maine Historic Preservation Commission, Maine State Museum, Maine Historical Society and Maine Humanities Council.
The New Century Community Fund will need continuing Bond support to be a fiscal catalyst for the Creative Economy in Maine. In the past, this one-in-the-nation program garnered $5.7 million for cultural programs & facilities in Maine communities.
Contact: Roger Q. Fenn, Communications Director, Office of the Senate President
287-1558 / 841-5291 (c) Roger.Fenn@legislature.maine.gov
Entire Cultural Affairs Council Report and News Information at www.mainearts.com
February 18, 2005 Speaker List
Deborah Smith – Chair, Cultural Affairs Council
Contact: deborah.smith@maine.edu
Senator Beth Edmonds (D – Cumberland County) – President, Maine Senate
Phone: 287-1500
Senator Richard W. Rosen (R – Hancock County)
Phone: 287-1505
Earle Shettleworth, Jr. – Director, Maine Historic Preservation Commission
Phone: 287-2132
George Campbell – President, Boulos Company, Portland
Phone: 722-1333
Maggie Smith – Vice President, Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center, Gardiner
Phone: 582-1814
Also present – Linda Matychowiak, Downtown Manager, Gardiner
2005 Cultural Facility Survey Report
During calendar year 2004 and early 2005, members of the Cultural Affairs Council surveyed their constituent institutions regarding anticipated cultural facility needs for their organizations, and related cost estimates. These included arts, preservation and historical organizations, libraries, and town offices with historical records.
Nearly 2,300 surveys were sent out, and over one third of all recipients responded to the request for information, with 65 percent indicating specific needs.
As a result of the survey, the Cultural Affairs Council was able to identify almost $340,000,000 in unmet cultural facility needs throughout the State of Maine. The council believes this estimate is conservative given the many recipients who did not return their surveys in time for consideration, and the likelihood that many organizations may not have received a survey.
This document summarizes each of the survey requests received to date, and the dollar estimates for the identified needs. Please note that the dollar estimates were prepared by the recipients and have not been independently verified by any other party. That said, prior to the issuance of any grant funds through the New Century Community Program, a more complete review of anticipated budgets and costs is undertaken by the granting - agencies. A local match is required for participation in the grant programs.
For convenience, we have organized this survey by community, within each of the 35 state senate districts. Please note that this survey does not include identified needs for operational expenses of cultural organizations in Maine.
The results for each survey are summarized below:
Archives/Museums $ 37,280,260 103
Arts Commission $ 219,450,044 133
Historic Preservation $ 39,457,375 256
Libraries $ 44,609,988 91
Municipal Records Vaults $ 97,000 286
Download the full report now: Facilities Needs Survey (331 kb .pdf)
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