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Arts advocates lobby to preserve 1% for art as creative-district tourism bill advances
Summary
Nebraska Arts Council and partners told the council they are pressing to protect the state’s 1% for art program amid negotiations on LB445, while LB560 — which would open tourism grant money to creative districts — cleared committee.
Nebraska Arts Council members and partner organizations heard updates Tuesday about two pieces of legislation that could affect public art and creative-district funding in Nebraska.
The council was told advocates continue to press to preserve the state’s 1% for art program after language in LB445, a construction-related bill, was amended during testimony to include repeal language. Lance (Nebraskans for the Arts) and Arts Council staff said discussions with the bill’s sponsor, Senator Von Gillern, and the council’s lobbyist aim to keep a version of the program while narrowing eligibility to reduce state costs.
Those negotiations have not produced final text. “My goal is to do as little damage to the program as possible and yet still maintain the program,” Mike (Arts Council staff) said at the meeting. He described ongoing talks with the senator and with the council’s lobbyist, Corbie Gilbertson, and said the sponsor has indicated he intends to propose an amendment to retain some form of the program.
At the same meeting, council members heard that LB560 — a bill to make certain tourism cash-fund dollars available for creative-district grants — moved out of committee 8–0. The bill initially prioritized creative districts but was altered to broaden which communities could apply; Arts Council speakers said that change was acceptable because the funding itself is what districts need.
Why it matters: LB445 could change the legal requirements and funding that support public art in state construction projects. Creative districts rely on development grants and marketing funds to build capacity; council members said LB560’s cash-fund approach could expand opportunities for marketing and personnel support that many districts need.
What happens next: Council staff and partner advocates said they will monitor amendment language for LB445 and will testify in favor of LB560 at upcoming hearings. Lance said he and others plan to attend hearings and gather testimony from creative-district leaders to demonstrate local impact.
