Hawaii House Bill HR108

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/11/22
• Refer: 3/14/22
• Report Pass: 3/31/22
• Refer: 3/31/22

Caption

Urging The Governor To Appoint A Creative Resurgence Coordinator To The Governor's Cabinet.

Impact

By appointing a Creative Resurgence Coordinator, the resolution aims to ensure better coordination between public and private sectors regarding creative resurgence projects. This could lead to a revitalization of the creative sector, promoting economic growth and cultural enrichment across all communities in Hawaii. It emphasizes the importance of government support in ensuring accessibility to the arts for everyone in the state, fostering community health through creative engagement.

Summary

House Resolution 108 urges the Governor of Hawaii to appoint a Creative Resurgence Coordinator to his cabinet, recognizing the critical role of the creative arts in the state's culture and economy. The resolution highlights that the creative arts sector accounts for about six percent of Hawaii’s total civilian jobs and contributes significantly to the state’s gross domestic product, amounting to $4.2 billion. The initiative is in response to the adverse impact of COVID-19 on the creative industries, which have suffered job losses substantially greater than the national average, as noted in a 2020 Brookings Institute report.

Contention

While the resolution is primarily supportive of the arts and economically motivated, it does not explicitly address potential funding concerns or the specifics of how such a coordinator would interact with existing arts programs. Although supportive voices argue for strengthening the arts sector, some may contend that the resolution lacks concrete measures or policies to address the operational aspects of appointing such a coordinator, which could lead to debates about prioritizing arts funding amid other pressing state financial needs.