Intriguing Idea to Consolidate Heritage, Arts and Culture in New State Agency

Crosscut Blog has a fascinating column by Knute Berger that explains a new bill (SB 5768) sponsored by Sens. Mary Margaret Haugen (D-Camano Island), Dan Swecker (R-Rochester), and Rosemary McAuliffe (D-Bothell), which is causing some controversy in Olympia. The bill entitled "Creating the department of heritage, arts, and culture", would bring many of the heritage and cultural functions in the State under one roof. 

But some agencies and offices are raising concerns. Apparently some oxen may be in danger of being gored. The Secretary of State's office is upset, since they run the State Archives, and jurisdiction over that function might be in question. 


But perhaps this would be an efficient and effective way to safeguard our most precious heritage and cultural assets.  These things are very important to promote tourism and bring "outside money" to our region.

An arts and heritage super-agency?

http://crosscut.com/2011/02/14/mossback/20629/An-arts-and-heritage-super-agency-/#end-of-comments

A bill in Olympia would create a Department of Heritage, Arts and Culture, embracing programs from historic preservation to film, archives, and tourism. Is it an idea whose time has come, or will it trigger an ill-timed turf war?

By Knute Berger

A sweeping new proposal in Olympia has left some arts and heritage advocates stunned. A bill (SB 5768) sponsored by Sens. Mary Margaret Haugen (D-Camano Island), Dan Swecker (R-Rochester), and Rosemary McAuliffe (D-Bothell) would consolidate virtually all state heritage functions into a single uber-agency called the Department of Heritage, Arts and Culture, a cabinet-level entity whose head would be appointed by the governor.