CREATIVE Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6165
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Arts, Culture, Religion
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-21: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-25T08:06:08Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The CREATIVE Act of 2025 aims to support the arts and creative economy by creating a federal grant program. It focuses on boosting job opportunities for artists and creative professionals, enhancing the quality and availability of arts facilities, and expanding arts-related programming, particularly in underserved communities.
Key Provisions
- Grant Types and Funding Limits:
- Hiring and Production Grants: Up to $5 million per grant to hire or pay professional performers, artists, and support staff for productions, projects, performances, exhibitions, workshops, or programs. Funds available for 5 years.
- Construction and Acquisition Grants: Up to $3 million to build or buy facilities for arts activities, requiring a commitment to provide full-time jobs for artists and support staff after completion. Funds available for 5 years.
- Maintenance and Improvement Grants: Up to $3 million to repair or upgrade existing arts facilities, requiring commitments to employ artists and support staff during and after the project. Funds available for 3 years.
- Eligibility and Limitations: Grants go to nonprofit arts organizations (e.g., local arts agencies, museums, professional theaters) that meet specific criteria, including tax-exempt status and labor compliance. Each entity can receive only one grant.
- Application Requirements: Entities must submit detailed plans covering project purposes, community benefits, access gaps, outreach to underrepresented groups (e.g., low-income, disabled, minorities), governance diversity, funding needs, sustainability, and labor attestations (e.g., no violation of bargaining agreements, safe working conditions).
- Priorities for Awarding Grants: Higher priority for entities in areas with limited arts access (e.g., rural or disrepair-prone facilities), those supporting diverse or underrepresented artists, facing financial hardship, addressing local issues, hiring disabled individuals, or promoting arts education. New recipients get preference.
- Oversight and Reporting: Grants supplement (not replace) other funds. The Secretary of Commerce (via the Economic Development Administration) reviews usage, requires annual reports on impacts (e.g., job creation, access improvements), and makes reports public. Unspent funds must be returned unless extended.
- Funding Authorization: $700 million annually from fiscal years 2026 to 2030, with up to 25% reserved for rural areas, up to 30% for maintenance grants, 1% for technical assistance, and 0.5% for administration. Prohibits use for certain labor reporting activities.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 (which focuses on economic development through infrastructure and jobs) by adding a new Section 223. It introduces the first dedicated federal grant program within this Act specifically for the arts and creative workforce, emphasizing employment, facility support, and community access—areas not previously covered in detail. It also incorporates arts-specific labor standards from the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Economic Development Administration (under the Department of Commerce) will administer the program, requiring additional staff and resources (0.5% of funds allocated). This expands the agency's role into cultural economic development.
- Citizens and Communities: Could increase arts access in underserved areas (e.g., rural, low-income, or minority communities), create jobs for artists and support staff, and reduce disparities in cultural programming. Benefits may include economic revitalization through arts tourism and education.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though enhanced U.S. arts infrastructure could indirectly promote cultural diplomacy by supporting diverse, underrepresented artists.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Arts Organizations: Nonprofits like museums, theaters, and local arts agencies eligible for grants to fund operations, facilities, and hiring.
- Artists and Creative Professionals: Performers, writers, and support staff (e.g., technicians) who gain employment opportunities, especially in underrepresented or rural settings.
- Communities: Particularly rural, low-income, disabled, or minority populations benefiting from improved arts access, education, and local economic activity.
- Labor Groups: Arts labor organizations (tax-exempt unions) involved in outreach and protected by requirements to honor bargaining agreements.
- Federal Government: Department of Commerce and Congress, managing funding and oversight.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces labor protections by mandating compliance with existing laws (e.g., safe conditions under the National Foundation on the Arts Act, no labor disputes). The "supplement not supplant" rule ensures grants add value without displacing other funding. No funds for certain union reporting activities avoids overlapping with labor disclosure laws.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power to promote general welfare through economic and cultural development; no apparent free speech or equal protection issues, as it prioritizes equity for underrepresented groups.
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Democrats and Republicans) highlights arts as a tool for economic recovery and community building. Could face debates over federal arts funding priorities amid budget constraints, but emphasizes job creation and local input to build broad support.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Turner, Michael R. [R-OH-10], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-21: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2025-11-20: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-11-20: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-11-20: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Capital, Repairs, and Employment for Art Talent to Improve Visibility Everywhere Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-20 — PDF (16 pages)