Hartford Business Journal

HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | FEBRUARy 20, 2023 21 increase funding "from $13.5 million last year to $13.8 million over each of the next two years," Bednarz said. Meantime, Lamont is facing pressure from other interest groups — including state colleges, social service nonprofits, etc. — for greater funding amid another projected budget surplus and fully funded $3.3- billion rainy day fund. A new coalition Arts and tourism leaders have been working together behind the scenes on their funding request strategy for the past year, according to Frank Burns, executive director of the CT Tourism Coalition, who has been a key force behind the effort. Their so-called "Arts, Culture, and Tourism Funding Roadmap" was developed by a 14-member committee led by Burns as well as CT Human- ities Executive Director Jason Mancini and Brett Thompson, head of the CT Arts Alliance. Other group members include lobbying and public relations special- ists as well as industry executives like Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, operator of Foxwoods Resort Casino. Together, they convened six focus groups, leveraging feedback from more than 200 arts, tourism and cultural institution leaders, said gambling tax revenue to tourism and arts organizations. The coalition said that the arts, culture and tourism sectors make up 13.4% (or $40 billion) of Connecti- cut's gross state product and support 175,000 jobs. 'Extremely short' David Fay, president and CEO of The Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford for the past 21 years, has been a frequent critic of what he said is a lack of state funding compared to what similar institutions in other parts of the country receive. Lamont's budget allocates $193,000 in state funding to The Bushnell in each of the next two fiscal years, an amount Fay said comes up "extremely short." Burns, whose CT Tourism Coalition represents more than 140 organiza- tions including restaurants, hotels, marinas and casinos. Burns said the $58.5-million funding request — which would be the largest-ever for arts, culture and tourism — would help the indus- try's continued recovery from the pandemic and make up for years of insufficient investment. In addition to $25 million for state- wide marketing efforts, industry advocates want $17.5 million for the Connecticut Cultural Fund, which supports grants to individual arts organizations; $8 million for arts, culture, and tourism earmarks; and $3 million for industry workforce development efforts. "That funding is needed for us to be competitive with neighboring states and states throughout the country," Burns said. "We have spent a lot of time educating legislators and, for the first time ever, all three sectors (arts, tourism and culture) are working together. We've combined our resources and, so far, have been well received." In addition to outlining funding requests, the coalition has recom- mended new revenue sources. For example, they've suggested increasing from 10% to 25% the amount of hotel and lodging tax reve- nues allocated to the Tourism Fund, which would create a $32-million windfall. They also recommend transferring $20 million in online "My performing-arts counterparts across the country, on average, get $2 million a year (from their respec- tive states) in operating support," said Fay, who oversees a $22-million budget and 53 full- and 285 part-time employees. "I get $193,000. Wow." Fay said the Bushnell went dark for 18 months between March 2020 and September 2021, and has been kept afloat during the pandemic with about $8.7 million in government rescue funds. But the public health crisis remains an issue for theaters and other tourist attractions, Fay said, and additional state support is needed to bolster the industry. "Our entire industry is struggling to get back on its feet," he said. Here's what the arts, culture and tourism industries want in annual state funding Statewide Marketing $25,000,000 CT Cultural Fund $17,500,000 Arts, Culture, and Tourism Earmarks $8,000,000 Arts, Culture, and Tourism Infrastructure (CT Humanities, CT Office of the Arts, CT Office of Tourism) $5,000,000 Arts, Culture, and Tourism Workforce Development $3,000,000 Annual State Investment $58,500,000 Source: Arts, Culture, and Tourism Funding Roadmap Frank Burns Washington Trust Wealth Management® is a registered trademark of The Washington Trust Company, which has licensed its use to its parent, affiliates, and subsidiaries, including Washington Trust Advisors, Inc. Investment products are offered through Washington Trust Wealth Management. Non-deposit investment products are: not deposits; not FDIC insured; not insured by any federal government agency; not guaranteed by the Bank; may go down in value. Long-term planning for you. For them. For everyone to come. 800.582.1076

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