STAND. COM. REP. NO 482

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                

 

RE:    S.B. No. 324

 

 

 

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2015

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Higher Education and the Arts, to which was referred S.B. No. 324 entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO AN ART EDUCATION FACILITY,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to appropriate monies from the general fund to provide a grant for the Honolulu Museum of Art to fund an architecturally significant building project that will include studio classrooms, an art education knowledge center, and expanded parking availability.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Honolulu Museum of Art; Hawaii Handweavers' Hui; Outrigger Enterprises Group; and sixty-one individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and three individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that funds from public sources provide less than five percent of the total budget of the Honolulu Museum of Art.  This lack of reliance on public funds is due in part to a number of past successful fund-matching agreements entered into between the Museum and private sources. 

 

     Your Committee further finds that the Museum is highly regarded statewide for providing patrons with stimulating and diverse exhibits and experiences.  The Museum is also highly regarded for operating programs for community members of all ages that relate to art creation and appreciation, ranging from traditional academic-based classes on art theory to hands-on workshops on artistic methods.

 

     Your Committee further finds that the Honolulu Museum of Art School is currently lacking the space within its structures to adequately meet community demand and participation in the Museum programs and classes.  The development of an additional art education facility adjacent to the present Honolulu Museum of Art School, housed in the historic Linekona School building adjacent to Thomas Square, would provide classroom, studio, and gallery space, creation of a knowledge center with an art library and expand partnering opportunities with the community and art educators statewide.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Higher Education and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 324 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Higher Education and the Arts,

 

 

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair