Meeting planned Feb. 16 in Richland to discuss cultural access funding

What if the Tri-Cities had a steady stream of money to help arts, culture, science and heritage organizations in the community?

To increase public access to those types of facilities and their activities?

To make sure students get the chance to see plays, hear symphony concerts, visit science centers and museums?

It could happen.

Lisa Toomey, a member of the Cultural Access Washington board, recently visited Benton and Franklin county commissioners to float the idea.

Toomey will meet with leaders from arts groups, museums and similar organizations at 3 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Drive. The public is welcome.

Under new legislation, a county or counties can ask voters to approve a 0.1 percent sales tax or equivalent property tax to support access to cultural, scientific and heritage organizations within their borders.

The counties have flexibility when it comes to deciding what to fund, and they designate a group — like a local community foundation or arts commission — to do the awarding.

The tax must go back to voters every seven years.

Increasing access to cultural, heritage and science programs and facilities improves quality of life and helps the community, especially kids, Toomey said.

“There are studies that show that children who are exposed to the arts perform better in school. It’s a way to develop a more diversified human being, who has the ability to understand art, science, history and heritage — all of it,” she said. “And giving them access helps them learn about possibilities, about what’s out there for them.”

Toomey is CEO of the Reach center in Richland, but her volunteer work with Cultural Access Washington is separate and on her own time.

Benton and Franklin county commissioners heard Toomey’s presentation last week.

Benton officials said they’d need to see interest from the community, and Franklin leaders indicated they had other priorities, although they asked to be kept updated, Toomey said.

If the counties decline to move ahead, cities within them could take up the idea.

Toomey said that the next step is to gauge support from arts and cultural groups, museums and the like — and the Feb. 16 meeting is the place to start.

Jo Brodzinski, a local performing arts advocate, is among those who plan to be there.

She’s not yet sure if the cultural access funding path is the way to go, but it’s worth looking at more closely, she said.

“I’m always willing to look at options we might have,” she said. “It could be the option that works.”

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 6:00 PM with the headline "Meeting planned Feb. 16 in Richland to discuss cultural access funding."