SB522

I support funding for the arts in New Hampshire.

Please vote to support/fund this Bill! The Arts contribute to the health of the People if NH and to the NH economy!

People come to vacation and recreate. Providing diverse experiences is important to the overall enjoyment of visiting our state. Residents also should be able to enjoy a wide array of cultural activities. I support the Arts 100% in NH!

I fully support reestablishing the commission studying the impact of the Creative Economy in NH. The Arts get people out into their communities, supporting lifestyle businesses, restaurants, creative endeavors of all kinds, arts businesses... the list goes on. The Arts are an important piece of well-being and need to be supported, most especially in divisive times.

The Creative Economy is the beating heart of the economy that proves we're alive and thrive. It's time to reestablish the commission studying the imact of our great state's collective creative imagination.

Every public dollar invested in the creative economy generates $12 of revenue.

The Arts are major contributors to the Creative Economy in our state that should regularly researched in terms of economic impacts, cultural and community contributions, impacts on tourism, impacts on health and well being, and impacts regrading education for citizens of all ages.

The arts in NH are an incredibly important profit creating industry for NH. Not having a state supporting art and artists and art institution is an embararssment.

On behalf of the Arts Council of Tamworth, I am writing in support of SB522. It is important to the arts in our state that we have good, up-to-date data on the impact and benefits of the arts sector on the New Hampshire economy. Thank you.

As a state with a huge tourist economy, I fully believe that the arts are an important draw and component statewide.

Please pass this bill

In any public policy debate (in this case funding for the arts) you need data that you can trust. There is no better way to get that than gather it yourself. This bill would establish a means to gather the information about the value of arts to the state (both in terms of revenue produced and social and personal wellbeing.) I support this bill because I believe the information collected will help legislators understand the value of the arts and the cost of not supporting them.

Arts are an economic driver and a public good.

Dear Chairperson and Members of the Committee, Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in strong support of Senate Bill 522. I urge the committee to recommend passage of this important legislation. The arts and culture sector is a significant but often underappreciated driver of New Hampshire's economy. From the theaters and galleries that draw visitors to our downtowns, to the craftsmen and performers whose work defines our state's identity, creative industries generate jobs, tax revenue, and economic activity that ripple across every corner of New Hampshire. Yet without dedicated, rigorous study, the full scope of this impact remains poorly understood — and consequently undervalued in policy decisions. SB 522 addresses this gap by re-establishing a commission specifically charged with studying and quantifying these contributions. This is a practical, low-cost measure with the potential to yield significant returns in the form of smarter, better-informed economic policy. The composition of the commission reflects a thoughtful and inclusive approach. By bringing together legislators, state agency leaders, and representatives from organizations like Arts4NH, the New Hampshire Theatre Alliance, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, and the White Mountains Attractions Association, the bill ensures that the commission will draw on diverse expertise and perspectives. This broad representation will produce findings that are credible, comprehensive, and actionable. The economic case for this commission is compelling. Nationally, the arts and culture sector accounts for billions of dollars in economic activity and supports millions of jobs. New Hampshire, with its vibrant creative community and its reliance on tourism and quality of life to attract residents and businesses, stands to benefit enormously from a clear-eyed understanding of how arts and culture contribute to our prosperity. A commission dedicated to this work can identify opportunities to strengthen these contributions and ensure that state policy supports rather than inadvertently hinders them. Furthermore, the bill's built-in sunset provision demonstrates fiscal responsibility. This is not a permanent expansion of government — it is a focused, time-limited effort to gather the information our state needs to make wise investments. I respectfully urge the committee to support SB 522. Understanding the economic impact of arts and culture is not a luxury — it is essential to sound economic stewardship of our state. Thank you for your consideration. Respectfully submitted, Jonah Schulte Hooksett, NH

There is absolutely no doubt as to the importance of the arts (and broadly speaking, cultural offerings) in regards to the NH economy, particularly the North Country. Spend some time at one of the “First Friday” events here in Littleton and you’ll see the impact. Let’s keep growing this cultural economy in a manner that makes sense (and makes $!)

The arts play a heavier impact than what the state is giving it credit for. It needs to be further explored.

The creative economy of the northern NH region is especially critical for the area to thrive.

Our Arts and Cultural Resources are essential for our NH communities, education, businesses and tourism to thrive. They should be treasured, cared for and supported as they bring so much value to citizens, and our economies.

I support this bill for the sake of NH residents.

Testimony in Support of SB 522, re-establishing the commission to study the economic impact of the arts and culture in New Hampshire March 25th, 2026 Thank you, Chairman Harb and Members of the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee. I am proud to submit this testimony in support of SB 522 because of my commitment to and longstanding support of New Hampshire’s creative economy. As the former Chair of the New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts, I, along with representatives from over 80 businesses across the Granite State, have worked to educate, motivate and recognize business support of and participation in the arts. We have done so because we recognized the importance of a thriving creative economy to new Hampshire’s overall economy. A vibrant arts scene is crucial for attracting and retaining talent in New Hampshire. Beyond their financial contributions, the arts educate, inspire, and heal, fostering unity and resilience in both urban and rural communities. They serve as a powerful force in strengthening our social fabric and enhancing the quality of life for all residents. Although the New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts has ceased operations, I continue to firmly believe in its mission of advocating for the value of the arts in economic, social and community development. I feel confident that a commission to study the economic impact of the arts and culture in New Hampshire will recognize that value. Arts organizations and businesses not only bind communities, they are economic multipliers for local economies, generating employment opportunities and revenue for restaurants, hotels, and retail businesses. Ten years ago, a legislative Commission to Study the Economic Impact of the Arts and Culture in New Hampshire concluded that “an in-depth study of the economic value of New Hampshire’s cultural sector would provide the baseline data needed to determine what actions might be necessary to further increase the contribution of arts and culture to state revenues.” Ten years on, it is time to revisit the work of the 2016 Commission and build upon it. Following the dissolution of the New Hampshire Business Committee for the Arts, a study to assess the impact of the arts on the New Hampshire economy is more important now than ever. SB 522 was recommended ought to pass by the Senate Executive Departments and Administration Committee. I encourage this Committee to make the same recommendation. Thank you for your consideration. Tom Raffio

I oppose the non-germane amendment, which is the text of HB 1616.

I oppose the non-germane amendment, which is the text of HB 1616.

This timely Bill would re-establish the commission to study the economic impact of the arts and culture in New Hampshire.

Position recorded without written comment.