With respect to arts activities, the Department of Economic and Community Development shall encourage, within the state or in association with other states, or both, participation in, and promotion, development, acceptance and appreciation of, artistic and cultural activities that shall include, but are not limited to, music, theater, dance, painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, films and allied arts and crafts and to this end shall have the following powers: (1) To join or contract with consultants, private patrons, individual artists and ensembles and with institutions, local sponsoring organizations and professional organizations; (2) to enter into contracts to provide grants, loans or advances to individuals, organizations, or institutions, public or private, that are engaged in or plan to engage in artistic and cultural programs or activities within the state, or that are engaged in or plan to engage in the promotion, development, or encouragement of artistic and cultural programs or activities within the state; (3) to accept, hold and administer, on behalf of the department, in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-28, 4-31, 4-31a and 4b-22, real property, personal property, securities, other choses in action and moneys, or any interest therein, and income therefrom, either absolutely or in trust, for any purpose of the department. The department may acquire or receive such property or money for its purposes by the acceptance of state or federal or public or private loans, contributions, gifts, grants, donations, bequests or devises, and the department shall deposit or credit the same in the culture and tourism account established under section 10-395; (4) to establish a nonprofit foundation for the purpose of raising funds from private sources to encourage, within the state or in association with other states, or both, participation in, and promotion, development, acceptance and appreciation of, artistic and cultural activities that shall include, but are not limited to, music, theater, dance, painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, films, heritage, historic preservation, humanities and allied arts and crafts. All funds received by the foundation shall be held in the manner prescribed by sections 4-37e to 4-37j, inclusive; and (5) to perform such other acts as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the objectives and purposes of the department. The General Assembly declares that all activities undertaken in carrying out the policies set forth in this chapter shall be directed toward encouraging and assisting, rather than in any way limiting, the freedom of artistic expression that is essential for the well-being of the arts. Said department shall maintain a survey of public and private facilities engaged within the state in artistic and cultural activities and determine the needs of the citizens of this state and the methods by which existing resources may be utilized, or new resources developed, to fulfill these needs. The department shall maintain a register of Connecticut artists. The name, town of residence and artistic medium of any such artist residing in Connecticut shall be entered in the register by the department upon the artist’s request.