Resolve establishing a commission on artistic representation in the People’s House.
Resolved, that there shall be a special legislative commission on artistic representation in the People’s House. The commission shall review the Massachusetts State House, identify any racially or culturally insensitive art, murals, or exhibits within or surrounding the State House, and promote diverse representation of the Commonwealth’s people and history at the State House. The commission shall consist of: 2 persons appointed by the president of the senate from a list of not less than 4 nominees from the Massachusetts Black & Latino Legislative Caucus; 2 persons appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives from a list of not less than 4 nominees from the Massachusetts Black & Latino Legislative Caucus; a member of the senate appointed by the senate president; a member of the house appointed by the speaker of the house; the chair of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe or their designee; the chair of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah or their designee.
The chief executive officer of the Boston Museum of African American History shall be appointed automatically to the commission and shall serve as chair.
The following shall be appointed automatically to the commission: the State House Art Curator; the superintendent of the Bureau of the State House; the chair of the State House Art Commission; the executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council or their designee; the executive director of the Massachusetts Humanities Council or their designee; the executive director of the Commission on the Status of Women or their designee; the executive director of the Commission on African Americans or their designee; the executive director of Amplify Latinx or their designee; the executive director of the Commission on Asian Americans or their designee; the executive director of the North American Indian Center of Boston or their designee; the executive director of the Commission on LGBTQ Youth or their designee; and the executive director of the Disability Law Center or their designee.
All members of the commission shall be voting members and shall have an equal vote on matters under its charge. The commission shall meet not less than four times annually, either in person or by remote video or audio conferencing. All commission votes shall pass by a simple majority.
The commission’s work shall include but not be limited to: (i) conducting a review of art, murals, statues, plaques, or any similar images within and surrounding the State House to identify any racially or culturally insensitive images or content that should be considered for removal; (ii) identifying unused wall or floor space in the State House that could be filled with more diverse and representative images and art from across the Commonwealth; (iii) soliciting the commission of art, murals, statutes, plaques, or artistic representation within and surrounding the State House that reflects the diversity of the Commonwealth’s residents and its history; provided further, the Commission may also recommend removal from public display some or all portraits of Governor’s displayed within the State House who served prior to 1900 and may recommend replacement of such wall space with more diverse and representative images and art from across the Commonwealth and its history; (iv) making recommendations regarding the statues representing the Commonwealth in the National Statuary Hall Collection including identifying any statue to be replaced, naming an individual to be newly commemorated, selecting a sculptor to create the replacement statue, and identifying methods of obtaining the funds necessary to accomplish the replacement.
The commission shall file an initial report with its findings on or before June 1, 2024 with the Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Senate. Said report shall be further delivered to the Governor of the Commonwealth. The commission may file additional reports.
The commission may accept and solicit funds, including any gifts, donations, grants or bequests or any federal funds, for any of the purposes of this section. The commission may receive state appropriations or be awarded bond funds. These funds shall be deposited in a separate account with the state treasurer, to be received by the treasurer on behalf of the Commonwealth and to be expended by the commission in accordance with law.