Bill would give one-time gift to state arts council

PROVIDENCE – To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the R.I. State Council for the Arts and the council’s work to support and promote the arts, Sen. Maryellen Goodwin and Rep. John J. McCauley Jr., both Providence Democrats, want the R.I. Lottery to sponsor a special instant “Arts Lottery Game” in the coming fiscal year to benefit the council.
Legislation sponsored by Goodwin and McCauley would require the game to be conducted during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008. The revenue collected from the game during its first six months of play would be deposited into an account exclusively for the council.
According to a 2006 report from the council, every $1 the state grants to artists and arts organizations generates at least $16.
“The arts are not an ‘expense’ for state government. They are an investment, and one that pays off every day, in many different and important ways,” said Rep. Peter L. Lewiss, D-Westerly, a cosponsor of the legislation. “We live in one of the best and most livable states in the nation – because we have a vibrant, exciting arts community.”