State Rep. Nicholas Bridle

I am a co-sponsor of HB 1320, which establishes a focused study committee to review past, present, and potential future funding sources for the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts. Arts and culture are not abstract concepts in New Hampshire. They are a real driver of visitation and economic activity. Festivals, galleries, performances, historic sites, and public art contribute directly to why people choose to visit our communities, stay overnight, dine locally, and return in future seasons. Cultural offerings complement our natural assets and help extend tourism beyond peak summer and foliage months, particularly in downtowns and rural communities. At the same time, the state has a responsibility to be thoughtful and disciplined about how public dollars are used. HB 1320 does not assume that more funding is the answer, nor does it lock the state into any specific approach. Instead, it creates a process to evaluate how arts-related funding has historically supported tourism and community vitality, how it functions today, and what options—public, private, or blended—may be appropriate in the future. This bill recognizes that a strong cultural identity helps differentiate New Hampshire as a destination. Visitors are not only drawn to scenery, but to places that feel alive, creative, and distinct. Understanding how arts funding intersects with tourism, economic development, and community life is essential before policymakers make long-term decisions. The study committee is small, temporary, and low-cost, with a clear reporting deadline. Its purpose is due diligence: gathering facts so future policy choices are informed, measured, and grounded in real outcomes. HB 1320 is about understanding value, not presuming it. It gives legislators and the public the information needed to make responsible decisions about how the arts contribute to New Hampshire’s economy and cultural character. I respectfully ask the committee to support the bill.