Like the Ohio House Committee on Arts, Athletics & Tourism, a new Congressional caucus is exploring a broader definition of entertainment.
A new bipartisan congressional caucus is putting a broader spotlight on the industries that make up America’s creative economy. The Movies, Music, Entertainment & Sports Caucus, recently launched in the U.S. House, will examine the economic impact of the creative economy and issues affecting film, television, music, entertainment and professional sports. The caucus is being led by Reps. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) and Young Kim (R-Calif.).
The creation of the caucus is notable not only because of its federal focus, but also because of its similarities to a new committee structure in the Ohio House of Representatives. During the current General Assembly, Ohio established the House Arts, Athletics, and Tourism Committee, chaired by Rep. Melanie Miller, with a jurisdiction that brings arts and culture into conversation with athletics and tourism.
Perhaps the idea embedded in both approaches is that the creative economy does not exist in silos. The organizations, businesses and workers who produce art, entertainment, live experiences, music, film and sports contribute to a larger ecosystem that supports jobs, attracts visitors, strengthens communities and generates economic activity.
a federal tax incentive for film & television production
The timing of the congressional caucus is also significant. Its launch comes as the film and television industry is pressing Congress to establish a federal production tax incentive designed to encourage more film and television production in the United States. President Trump has publicly called for a federal incentive, and bipartisan legislation is reportedly being developed in the House.
According to reporting on the proposal, the Motion Picture Association is advocating for a federal production credit as the industry competes with international markets. A study recently commissioned by the Association projects that a 20% federal incentive could generate substantial additional production spending and employment. Many states across the country already offer state-level tax incentives for film and television production, including Ohio, where the program also includes an allocation for theatre production.
THE MESSAGE FOR ADVOCATES
For arts advocates, these developments reinforce the potential benefits of approaching arts and culture as part of a larger creative sector—one that intersects with entertainment, sports, tourism, workforce development and economic development.
As policymakers at both the state and federal levels increasingly bring these sectors into the same conversation, Ohio’s creative organizations have an opportunity to help shape what that broader creative economy looks like, and to ensure that the contributions of artists and nonprofit arts organizations remain part of the discussion.
