Bristol Eyes Tax-free Status for Arts

The Bristol Town Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution last week to make historic downtown an official arts district. Senator Christopher Ottiano will take the resolution to the Rhode Island General Assembly later this year in hopes of establishing Bristol as a state-recognized tax-free arts zone like that of Warren. 

Tax-free arts districts allow artists who live and work in the district to forego state sales tax and income tax on the sale of their artwork. It also allows galleries exemption from charging sales tax for original, one-of-a-kind words regardless of whether or not they were created within the boundaries of the district. 

Bristol art dealers, with Hope Gallery’s Anita Trezvant at the helm, proposed the idea to the Council in late Spring.

“If Bristol were to become an arts district that would be a very good tax incentive for artists, galleries, retail arts and would be a win/win for the economy,” read Trezvant’s letter to the Council on behalf of , , Uncommon Art, , , Mosaic Arts, Bristol Art Museum and .

In a follow up, the Town Council asked for support materials and were provided with a petition to form an arts district with over 100 signatures, as well as additional research on the economic benefits. Possible stated benefits included drawing more tourists to town, attracting artists and improving the overall economy of the town.

Trezvant says everyone, especially artists and galleries, are bearing the burden of a sluggish economy. Of her own gallery she says her survival is due only to keeping prices of artwork very low.

Despite the art galleries’ best efforts, however, achieving tax-free arts status may be a long shot. In order for the resolution to pass the General Assembly would first have to amend their current law to include new communities. No new communities have been added for several years. Warren is one of only nine communities in the state to have such status.