For the next two years, at least, artists who live outside Washington state won't be eligible to compete for money from the state's main public-art funding pool.

Established in 1974, the "1/2 of 1 percent for Art" program sets aside about $2 million a year from the state construction budget to buy art for state buildings. While much of the cash goes to local artists, out-of-state artists have been eligible, too.

PHOTO BY KURT KIEFER / WASHINGTON STATE ARTS COMMISSION

No more state cash for sculptures by out-of-state artists, like Stronghold by New York City's Brian Tolle, installed last year on the UW campus

Not any more. A late amendment inserted in the state capital budget by Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens orders the Washington State Arts Commission to "restrict the purchase of works of art to artists residing in Washington state." (The amendment appears on page 240 of the budget, which you can read here.)

Hobbs first tried to get the Legislature to temporarily suspend the 1/2 percent for Arts program for the next two years. He couldn't get enough support for that, but did convince lawmakers to adopt his local-only restriction.

Hobbs said his amendment is just common sense in a recession.

"This is probably a really good time and a necessary time in our situation to help Washington artists," he said. "Everybody is hurting, so lets find a way to use a current program we have now and focus it to support our own."

The new restriction was not supported by the Washington State Arts Commission, which administers the 1/2 percent for Art program.

Commission spokesman Mark Gerth said the Legislature's action could lead other states to adopt similar restrictions -- cutting off opportunities for Washington artists.

"Keeping things open is a reciprocal relationship," Gerth said. "If everyone says money has to go to your state's artists you are going to keep some money in state, but your artists will lose opportunities too."

Of the 30-plus states that have public art programs, Gerth said the commission staff was not aware of any that restrict work to only artists from within the state.

Gerth added that art selections for state buildings are typically made by panels of local representatives. A sculpture at a school, for example, might be chosen by a committee that includes local artists, teachers and even students. Those groups frequently choose Washington artists, but they some times prefer out-of-state submissions.

Of currently funded projects, Gerth said the program has 35 Washington artists under contract and 13 non-Washington artists.

Hobbs said he supports the 1/2 percent for Art program in principle, but doesn't think the state can justify it while making drastic cuts such as 40,000 people off of health care.

He scoffed at the notion that out-of-state artists should have a right to compete for limited state arts funding.

"This isn't foreign aid," he said. "This is Washington state tax dollars paid for by Washington citizens."

The new restriction will prohibit the arts commission from buying sculptures like Stronghold, (above) installed last year at the University of Washington campus by Brian Tolle, a New York City artist. That cost the state $268,000.

The local-only restriction will take effect this year unless vetoed by Gov. Chris Gregoire.