Loading...
Arts and Culture Funding Operating SupportCity of Dubuque .marts & Cultural _Affairs Advisory Commission April 27, 2012 The Honorable Mayor and City Council City of Dubuque 50 W.13th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 Re: Arts and Culture Funding Program for Operating Support FY 2013 Funding Requests and Commission Recommendations Dear Mayor and City Council Members: Introduction The Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission has reviewed ten funding requests from Dubuque arts and culture organizations requesting $247,371 in funds from the FY 2013 Arts and Culture Funding Program for Operating Support. This memo transmits the Commission's funding recommendations and requests that the Council approve the recommendations and associated funding agreements. Background In March 2005, the City Council approved a $200,000 budget decision package providing resources for the Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission to make recommendations to City Council for the best investment in the community for arts and culture. In May 2005, the City Council approved the Commission's recommendation to establish an Arts and Culture Funding Program for Operating Support. The Commission recommended that operating support be provided to high - quality, established 501(c)(3) arts and culture organizations located in the City of Dubuque that primarily serve Dubuque residents with year -round arts and culture events, programs and services, and can demonstrate a record of programmatic and administrative stability. Arts and culture advocates worked for many years to educate the community about why our arts and culture organizations need City funding and why this financial investment is good for Dubuque. The Commission believes it is important to sustain and insure long -term viability for existing arts and culture organizations and to create a welcoming environment for new organizations. The Commission has reviewed funding requests each year since the program was established and recommended that the council award funding to 12 organizations for FY 2006 totaling $200,000, 9 organizations for FY 2007 totaling $200,000, 11 organizations in FY 2008 totaling $200,000, 12 organizations for FY 2009 totaling $200,000, 13 organizations in FY 2010 totaling $200,000, and 13 organizations in FY 2011 totaling $200,000 and 14 organizations in FY 2012 totaling $200,000. During the FY 2013 budget process, the Arts Commission recommended that the Arts Operating Support program be increased by 10 %, to $220,000. The City Manager's recommendation was to increase the program by 5 %, or an additional $10,000. The Arts Commission is extremely appreciative that the City Manager and City Council recognize the critical value of this program and have approved an increase in the available funding. The eighth round of competition (FY 2013) for the operating support program was announced in January, 2012. Arts and culture organizations were notified of the funding competition by direct mail, media releases, and posting on the City's web site. Staff also conducted two grant workshops in February for potential applicants. Staff was also available to provide assistance to applicant organizations on an individual basis throughout the application period. Discussion The Commission received funding requests from ten different Dubuque Arts and Culture organizations. The funding requests totaled $247,371. The maximum funding levels initially established for the program are 6% of organization's previous year's operating expenses or $50,000, whichever is less. Total funding available in the FY 2013 budget is $210,000. Budget constraints have limited the Commission's ability to fully fund the eligible organizations. Over the history of this funding program, the Commission has never been able to fully fund the eligible organizations. The program guidelines state "It is unlikely that qualified organizations will be funded at this level. Funding levels over the past few years have ranged from 2- 6% or $40,000, depending upon the number of eligible applicants and the degree to which an applicant meets selection criteria." The Commission utilizes a point value for the various rating criteria to determine the ranking of the funding requests. Selection criteria for the program are: 1. Dubuque arts and culture organizations whose mission is primarily arts and culture and the degree to which their programs and services support that mission and the city's cultural arts goals. (40 points possible) 2. Organization's demonstrated management abilities (financial position or condition, fiscal responsibility, and management.) (25 points possible) 3. Organization's demonstrated artistic or cultural excellence and leadership (20 points possible.) 4. Impact of organization on broader Dubuque Community (15 points possible) The Commission reviewed a number of possible funding formulas including reducing the cap and the percentage levels of funding. The Commission is unanimously in recommending to City Council the following: a) Reduce the maximum funding cap from $50,000 to $45,000, or 6% of an organization's operating expenditures. Reduction of the funding cap directly impacts the Dubuque County Historical Society, the Colt's Drum and Bugle Corps this year but may impact other larger arts organization in future years. b) Commission is recommending that organizations be funded at the following percentage of operating expenditures based on their score: 98 points or above 94 -96 points 90 -93 points 85 -89 points <85 points 5.75% of organization's operating expenditures 5.25% of organization's operating expenditures 4.5% of organization's operating expenditures 4.2% of organization's operating expenditures 3.5% of organization's operating expenditures Recommended funding levels are: Organization Dubuque Symphony Orchestra Dubuque County Historical Society Bell Tower Productions Colts Drum & Bugle Dubuque Arts Council Grand Opera House Dubuque Museum of Art Northeast Iowa School of Music Dubuque Main Street, Ltd. (Cultural Corridor) Dubuque Art Center Score Funding 99 41,301 97.86 45,000 95.83 15,064 94.0 45,000 93.33 4,240 93.33 21,590 91.17 20,413 90.14 7,466 88.86 5,486 81.86 4,440 Total 210,000 A spreadsheet is attached which details the recommended funding levels as well as the operating support funding provided to the organizations in FY 2012. Action The Council is requested to approve the ten FY 2013 Arts and Culture Operating Support funding requests and authorize the City Manager to sign the funding agreements. The Commission is extremely appreciative of the City Council's support of arts and cultural organizations and is looking forward to our continuing working together to support the artistic and cultural development of the City. As a Commission we are constantly receiving feedback from the funded arts organizations about the critical positive impact this funding has on their organizations and their ability to provide cultural opportunities to the citizens of Dubuque. Sincerely, Marina O'Rourke, Chairperson Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission Encl. Cc: Grant Applicants FY 2013 Arts Operating Support - Recommended funding recommended max of $45,000 FY 2013 Worksheet FY 12 Funding oper exp. max funding X98 =5.75% 95 + =6% 94 -96 =5.25% 90- 94 =4.6% 90- 93 =4.5% 85- 89 =3.1 % 85- 89 =4.2% <85 = 2.5% <85 =3.5% 41301 45000 15064 45000 4240 21590 20413 7466 5486 4440 210000 with cap of $40,000 6% or $50,000 average Dubuque Symphony Orchestra 40,079 718,278 43,097 99 Dubuque County Historical 40,000 6,508,610 50,000 97 86 Bell Tower Productions 12362 286,939 17,216 95 83 Colts Drum & Bugle 40000 1,363,361 50,000 94 Dubuque Arts Council 5258 94,215 5,653 93 33 Grand Opera House 19177 479,769 28,786 93 33 Dubuque Museum of Art 22670 453,629 27,217 91 17 Northeast Iowa School of Music 5066 165,909 9,955 90 14 Dubuque Main Street Ltd 4107 130,585 7,835 88 86 Dubuque Art Center 3380 126,871 7,612 81 86 10,328,166 247,371