§ 5A-1. Declaration of purpose.
§ 5A-2. Definitions.
§ 5A-3. Arts and Humanities Council-Establishment and recognition.
§ 5A-4. Council Membership and Organization.
§ 5A-5. Reserved.
§ 5A-6. Council Authority.
§ 5A-7. County Support for Arts and Humanities Council.
*Cross references-Works of art in public architecture, § 8-43 et seq.; zoning requirements for art or cultural centers, § .
Notes
| 1 | *Editor's note—Section 2 of 1999 L.M.C., ch. 24, reads as follows: "Sec. 2. Transition and Ratification. (a) The Arts and Humanties Council should appoint each person who was serving on the Commission on the Humanities immediately before this Act takes effect as a director of the Council for a term ending not earlier than December 31, 1999. (b) Any action by the Arts Council or the Commission on the Humanities before this Act takes effect is ratified to the extent that the action was consistent with Resolution 14-147 and County law as amended by this Act. (c) The County arts and humanities organization is the Arts and Humanities Council, until the County Council, by resolution under Code Section 5A-3(b), as amended by Section 1 of this Act, rescinds this designation or designates another qualified organization. (d) The Arts and Humanities Council must submit amended bylaws and articles of incorporation to the County Council and County Executive under Code Section 5A-4(e), as amended by Section 1 of this Act, not later than the effective date of this Act. Notwithstanding Code Section 5A-4(e), as amended, the Arts and Humanities Council may operate under the bylaws and other governing documents of the former Arts Council during the 60-day period after this Act takes effect, until the amended bylaws and articles of incorporation take effect. (e) The Arts and Humanities Council is the successor to the Arts Council contract with the County, and any other legal rights and obligations of the Arts Council." |
The County Council finds that:
(a) It is highly desirable for a progressive and informed citizenry to give full value and support to the arts and humanities and their associated activities in order to achieve a better understanding of the past, a better analysis of the present, and a better view of the future.
(b) In addition to the dedication and devotion of individuals and groups practicing and studying the arts and humanities, the advancement of these subjects requires assistance and support not only through an atmosphere within the community favoring the free flow of thought, imagination and inquiry, but also through the coordination and availability of material, conditions, and resources facilitating the exchange of meaningful ideas and the expression of creative thought.
(c) Many County residents, individual artists, scholars, organizations, and groups concerned with the arts and humanities lack the opportunity to receive needed encouragement, recognition, and support in the formulation, performance, and enjoyment of artistic, humanities, and scholarly goals.
(d) Encouraging and supporting the arts and humanities, while primarily a matter for private and community initiative, is also an appropriate concern of the County government.
(e) It is necessary and appropriate for the County government to complement, assist, encourage, support, and promote arts and humanities programs, projects and research presented or sponsored by individuals, groups, and organizations, both private and public, within the County.
(f) To implement these findings, the County government should encourage and assist the establishment of a nonpartisan Arts and Humanities Council. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1; 1999 L.M.C., ch. 24, §1; 2001 L.M.C., ch. 28, §§ 2, 15 and 16.)
Editor’s noteThe effective date of the amendments made to this section by 2001 L.M.C., ch. 28, § 2, is the same effective date as 1999 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 1.
In this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the following meanings:
Arts and Humanities Council. The organization designated under this Chapter as the County arts and humanities organization.
Director. An individual who serves on the governing board of the Arts and Humanities Council.
Humanities. Modern and classical language; linguistics; literature; history; jurisprudence; philosophy; archeology; comparative religion; ethics; history, criticism, and theory of the arts; historic preservation humanistic aspects of the social sciences; application of the humanities to the various environments; and education regarding these subjects.
Member. An individual who supports the Arts and Humanities Council by satisfying that organization's requirements for membership, consistent with this Chapter.
The arts. The acts of creating, writing, composing, designing, studying, interpreting, executing, performing, exhibiting and presenting music (instrumental and vocal); dance; drama; literature; poetry; painting; sculpture; graphics; craft and folk arts; and the selecting and exhibiting of such arts as well as historic memorabilia; photography; industrial design; costume and fashion design; motion pictures; television; radio; puppetry; tape and sound recording; architecture and the construction and conserving of same; publishing, printing and collection of books, papers and media prints; the history, criticism, theory and practice of the arts and the study and application of the arts to the human environment. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1; 1999 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 1.)
(a) The County government should help establish a County-based, nonprofit organization to develop, promote, advocate, and coordinate efforts to support, investigate, encourage, and present arts and humanities in the County.
(b) The County Council, after considering any recommendations of the County Executive, may designate by resolution a qualified organization as the Arts and Humanities Council. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1; 1999 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 1.)
Cross reference-Boards and commissions generally, § 2-141 et seq.
(a) Membership on the Arts and Humanities Council must be open to all private and public agencies, organizations, and individuals who support, participate in, contribute to, and generally enhance and promote the arts and humanities in the County. Membership on the governing board of the Arts and Humanities Council must be nonpartisan.
(b) Directors of the Arts and Humanities Council must represent:
(1) Private citizens, organizations, and groups recognized for their knowledge of or interest in the arts and humanities.
(2) Practicing artists and writers, both professional and amateur; scholars and researchers; civic cultural leaders; members of the professions; and other individuals and groups concerned with the arts and humanities.
(3) The various disciplines in the arts and humanities.
(4) The general public, including ethnic, racial, linguistic, and cultural minorities.
(5) Geographic balance regarding where members live or work in the County.
(c) The Arts and Humanities Council may provide for separate classes of membership for organizations and individuals to recognize and give representative weight to the size and nature of the interests a member represents.
(d) The Arts and Humanities Council must require each officer and director, and the executive director to annually disclose, confidentially and in writing, all activities and interests related to arts and humanities organizations, programs, or funding to the governing board of directors for the Arts and Humanities Council. Each officer and director, and the executive director of the Arts and Humanities Council is a public employee under Sections 19A-11 and 19A-14 for any matter in which the person participates for the Council. The Council must adopt and apply policies and procedures to ensure that its actions are fair, unbiased, and non-partisan.
(e) Before the County may contract with the Arts and Humanities Council, the Council must provide a copy of its current articles of incorporation and bylaws to the County Executive and the County Council. The Council must submit to the County Executive and County Council for review and comment any proposed amendment to the articles of incorporation or bylaws, at least 60 days before the Arts and Humanities Council takes final action on the amendment. The Council must submit a copy of all adopted amendments to the Executive and County Council within 5 working days after adoption. The articles of incorporation and bylaws are subject to all County laws, including those enacted after the County contracts with the organization.
(f) The Arts and Humanities Council must give the County regular and complete financial reports, including an annual independent audit and any accompanying management letter, and any other report required under a contract with the County.
(g) The Arts and Humanities Council is a public body under the State open meetings law. (1976 L.M.C., ch. 15, § 1; 1984 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 9; 1999 L.M.C., ch. 24, § 1; 2018 L.M.C., ch. 7, §1.)
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