Committee supports funding review of state art collection

A legislative panel is giving a second chance to a bill that would create an inventory of state owned art.

Some of those pieces were delivered to schools across the state decades ago by Alice Merrill Horne, Utah's first woman lawmaker, said Ally Isom, deputy director of the Utah Department of Community and Culture.

"Some of these schools don't know they're in possession of such gems, such treasures," Isom told members of the Workforce Services and Community and Economic Development Committee.

A bill to create the inventory received strong Senate support in the past session, but died because it wasn't funded. It would require $33,000 in its first year and $24,600 in ongoing funding.

On Wednesday the interim panel gave a unanimous nod to bring back a bill to create an inventory mananaged by the Division of Arts and Museums the 2009 session. The bill also provides for training on proper stewardship.

Sen. Mark Madsen, R-Lehi, the 2008 bill sponsor asked about concerns the bill could transfer ownership of locally held art to the state.

"This is not an effort in any way to obtain ownership of art," Isom said. "This is simply an effort to account for and take record of the art."

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