An Act establishing a program for local art and community engagement

This bill establishes the PLACE (Program for Local Art and Community Engagement) program to fund public art in Massachusetts state buildings and infrastructure. It creates a commission (with appointed members from arts, community, and state agencies) to manage a dedicated fund receiving 0.5% of public construction funds (capped at $300,000 per project, adjusted for inflation). The fund supports public art projects - including design, installation, and maintenance - in state-owned buildings, requiring projects to be owned by the Commonwealth, prioritize Massachusetts artists, and distribute projects across geographic regions. The commission must report annually on fund usage to state legislative committees.