Letter of Support to National Endowment for the Arts Our Town ProgranCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 010.
Copyrighted
August 15, 2022
ITEM TITLE: Letter of Support to National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Program
in Support of Community through Creativity Proposal from Voices
Productions in Partnership with Dubuque Museum of Art
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approve a letter of support for
an application to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Our Town
grant program being put forward by Voices Productions in partnership
with the Dubuque Museum of Art (DuMA).
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Type
Letter of Support to National Endowment for the Arts
Our Town Program in Support of Community through City Manager Memo
Creativity Proposal from Voices Productions in
Partnership with Dubuque Museum of Art-MVM Memo
Memo to MVM re Letter of Support to NEA Our Town
Program on behalf of Voices Productions and Dubuque Staff Memo
Museum of Art
Letter of Support NEA Our Town Proposal from Voices Supporting Documentation
Productions and DuMA final
THE CITY OF
Dubuque
DUB TEE1.
All -America City
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Letter of Support to National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Program
in Support of Community through Creativity Proposal from Voices
Productions in Partnership with Dubuque Museum of Art
DATE: August 11, 2022
Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator Jenni Petersen -Brant is recommending City Council
approve a letter of support for an application to the National Endowment for the Arts
(NEA) Our Town grant program being put forward by Voices Productions in partnership
with the Dubuque Museum of Art (DuMA). Our Town eligibility requires partnership
between a non-profit organization and a local government entity in which the `highest
ranking official of the local government is required to submit a formal statement of
support.'
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Jill Connors, Economic Development Director
Jenni Petersen -Brant, Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator
Dubuque
THE CITY OF
DUBQTE,
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20072012.2013
Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2017*2019
TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Jenni Petersen -Brant, Arts & Cultural Affairs Coordinator
Economic Development Department
Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs
1300 Main St
Dubuque, IA 52001
Office (563) 589-4393
TTY (563) 690-6678
http://www.cityofdubuque.org
SUBJECT: Letter of Support to National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Program
in Support of Community through Creativity Proposal from Voices
Productions in Partnership with Dubuque Museum of Art
DATE: August 15, 2022
INTRODUCTION
The memorandum provides information on a letter of support requested in support of an
application to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Our Town grant program
being put forward by Voices Productions in partnership with the Dubuque Museum of
Art (DuMA). Our Town eligibility requires partnership between a non-profit organization
and a local government entity in which the `highest ranking official of the local
government is required to submit a formal statement of support.'
BACKGROUND
Our Town is the NEA's creative placemaking grants program. Through project -based
funding, the program supports activities that integrate arts, culture, and design into local
efforts that strengthen communities. Our Town projects advance local economic,
physical, or social outcomes in communities, ultimately laying the groundwork for
systems change and centering equity.
These projects require a partnership between a local government entity and nonprofit
organization, one of which must be a cultural organization; and should engage in
partnership with other sectors (e.g., agriculture and food, economic development,
education and youth, environment and energy, health, housing, public safety,
transportation, workforce development). Grants range from $25,000 to $150,000, with a
minimum cost share/match equal to the grant amount. The program is currently
accepting applications with Voices Productions and DuMA putting forward a strong
project concept in partnership with the City's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and the
Office of Shared Prosperity & Neighborhood Support.
DISCUSSION
Because art is uniquely poised to catalyze positive community change -making, two
Dubuque anchor arts organizations are partnering with the City of Dubuque to advance
a high -priority City initiative focused on equity, poverty prevention, accessibility, and
vibrant creative placemaking in a project entitled: Community through Creativity.
Voices Productions — Dubuque's most cutting -edge cultural organization and social
disruptor; and DuMA — the oldest arts institution in the State of Iowa and one of the
most foundational; together with the City of Dubuque, will activate new and sustained
cross -sector partnerships, establish a socially engaged artist residency program, and
scale innovative public festivals. This project will activate a shared vision for enduring
impact to Dubuque with a particular focus on injecting energy and resources into
Dubuque's underprivileged, emerging urban center, and on engaging and empowering
underrepresented community members through co -creation of community art and public
celebrations around arts and community.
Funding will be utilized to incubate an innovative artists -in -residence program, providing
compensation, housing, and opportunities to both showcase art and engage in social
change initiatives. Funding will also be used to scale innovative community arts festivals
and cultural celebrations injecting new life into downtown Dubuque. Activities will be
carried out in partnership with the City's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and the Office of
Shared Prosperity & Neighborhood Support to maximize reach and impact.
The following sources have been identified to meet the 1:1 match required for this grant:
• In -kind from DuMA.
• In -kind and cash from Voices Productions.
• In -kind staff time from the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and the Office of
Shared Prosperity & Neighborhood Support.
• Up to $25,000 cash for implementation of community -driven beautification in
Central Avenue Corridor per City CIP 360-2561 in FY24.
• Additional grants will be sought as needed.
The grant application will be submitted and managed by Voices Productions. Any
initiatives to come related to the NEA request must start after July 1, 2023 with
generally a 2-year window to implement the work.
The statement of support from the `highest ranking official of the local government' is an
eligibility requirement of the NEA Our Town grant program. Attached is the letter that
would be provided to Voices Productions after approval by City Council and the Mayor's
signature is affixed.
BUDGET IMPACTS
There is no budget impact associated this statement of support.
RECOMMENDATIONS
I request City Council approval of the attached statement of support. Upon approval,
Mayor Cavanagh's signature must be affixed and remitted to Staff by 8/16/2022. Staff
will provide Voices with a signed letter for upload with their application which is due
11:59 p.m. on 8/16/2022.
Cc: Jill Connors, Economic Development Director
Teri Goodman, Director of Strategic Partnerships
Anderson Sainci, Director of Office of Shared Prosperity & Neighborhood Support
THE CITY OF
DUB E
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi
August 15, 2022
National Endowment for the Arts
400 7ch St, SW
Washington, DC 20506
Dear Our Town Grant Review Panelists,
Dubuque
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2017*2019
On behalf of the City of Dubuque, I write in support of and as a supporting partner to the NEA
Our Town Grant: Community through Creativity proposal.
The City of Dubuque has a proud history of partnering with and elevating arts and culture into
our community priorities, city design and planning, and strategic partnerships. We know that
culturally and creatively vibrant cities are more economically prosperous, inclusive, and resilient.
Our non-profit arts and culture sector generates approximately $47.2M annually in economic
activity and support thousands of jobs in our community. Further, the arts have a unique ability
to unite, to catalyze community building, and to create innovative partnerships.
The Community through Creativity project is an outstanding example of local government and
nonprofit arts organizations working together to advance equity and strengthen our community
through arts -centered programming. The proposed project will work closely with our Office of
Arts and Cultural Affairs and Office of Shared Prosperity and Neighborhood Development to
advance key City priorities and plans including our Equitable Poverty Prevention and Reduction
Plan and investment in the Central Avenue Corridor, as well as our Arts and Cultural Master
Plan — driving economic and community development, inclusivity, opportunity, and
accessibility.
The City of Dubuque is energized to be working with Voices Productions and their nonprofit
lead partner, the Dubuque Museum of Art. These two organizations reflect dynamic and diverse
arts and culture assets in the community. Both have a strong tradition of propelling positive
change.
Voices Productions has a 16-year history of catalyzing groundbreaking community development
through arts. It was Voices that first embraced Dubuque's Historic Millwork District when it was
almost entirely abandoned and vacant. Voices empowered the community to reimagine raw
spaces and brought warehouses to life through Voices from the Warehouse pioneering large-scale
art shows and performances. This led the City to make the district a top priority, driving private
and public investment — including an NEA Our Town Grant in 2011, and today - the district is a
thriving community hub. Voices Productions is also responsible for Dubuque's visually vibrant
landscape that has added 40+ large scale outdoor murals to our City.
The City is proud to be home to the Dubuque Museum of Art — the oldest cultural institution in
Iowa. DuMA has partnered in countless City arts initiatives and has the gravitas, innovation, and
commitment to changing lives through art to contribute significantly to the success of this
project. DuMA's recognition as a Smithsonian Affiliate and American Alliance of Museums
Accredited member, along with their commitment to be a space of transformative change and
social gathering in our community, is an ideal partner emphasizing the role of the arts and artists
in co -creating community and uplifting the voices of marginalized and underrepresented
community members.
As partners, we are committed to activating new and sustained cross -sector partnerships,
working with and empowering a socially engaged artist residency program, and reducing barriers
to scaling and expanding diverse public festivals to bring to life a shared vision for enduring
impact to the community, centered in equity and access.
We are grateful for the opportunity to be a supporting partner in Voices Productions and the
Dubuque Museum of Art's collaborative Our Town grant proposal to the NEA, and we humbly
request your support.
Sincerely,
Mayor Brad Cavanagh
City of Dubuque