Sen. Markley: “We don’t have any money.”

(Hartford Courant) Sen. Markley Questions Public Spending on Building Art

With the state facing large budget deficits, state Sen. Joe Markley is questioning a 39-year-old law that requires spending for public art.

The law states that one percent of construction costs for any public building needs to be spent on public art at the facility.

As such, the money is used to ensure that art is present at the building when it would not be otherwise.

“We don’t have any money,’’ Markley told Capitol Watch after testifying in front of the Government Administration and Elections Committee to eliminate the law. “I can see better places to put $1 million per year. Why do we continue to do something out of inertia?’’

The state has spent more than $5 million over the past six years on various art projects at public buildings due to the law, according to state statistics. The deficit for the fiscal year that starts on July 1 has been projected by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s administration at $1.7 billion.

“If we want to spend money on the arts, let’s put it into education,” Markley said. “While we spend millions each year on public art that goes virtually unnoticed, state cuts to aid to municipalities force schools to eliminate music programs. How many people—besides the recipients of the grants—can honestly say that any of this public art was a life-enhancing experience for them? I’d much rather see us give our children an appreciation of art in the classroom than mandate the needless decoration of public buildings.”