ArTS Dubuque request fundingNovember 19, 2002
Honorable. Mayor Terry Duggan and City Council Members
C/O Mns. Jeanne Schneider
The Office of City Clerk
Dubuque City Hall
1300 Main Street
Dubuque, IA 52001-4732
RobertWoodward
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
ArTS Dubuque is again asking the City of Dubuque to provide financial support for the
operating budgets of the Dubuque Grand Opera House Dubuque Museum of Art, and Dubuque.
Symphony. Orchestra for the year of 2003.
As you know our operating budgets are modest and supported only by contributions, patrons, and
memberships. We receive no direct governmental financial Support.
You also know that Dubuque is unique in Iowa in not having municipal funding for its key arts
organizations.
we respectfulIy request that the City consider funding to the Dubuque Grand-Opera House,
Dubuque Museum of Art, and Dubuque Symphony Orchestra in the amount of fifty thousand
dollars to each group in the year 2003.
We wish to Commend you on recogizing the arts as a priority of the administration's 2003-2004
goals. We look forward to cooperating with the Arts Policy and Funding Task Force. In this
regard we are attaching research information we have developed relative to the Arts Task Force
objectives.
Please let us know in what Ways we may be of continued asaistance. Ands thank you for
considering our financial request.
Respectfully,
Bob Woodward
ArTS Dubuque
DubUque Museum of Art
Dubuque's Grand Opera House
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra
Cc:
Mike:Van Mill:gan. City Manager
Cindy Steinhauser. Ass:slant City Manager
Laura Carstens, City Planner - - -
- Box688, Dubuque, Iowa; U.S.A: 52004 '.
;583..588-.5684 : FAX. ;563.;S88.,5750
E-mail address: woo~vard~wdnet, com
Municipal Support for Iowa Art Museums
November 19, 2002
Davenport Museum of Art
Population: 98,000
Annual budget: $ 1,400.000
City Support: 753,000
No hotedmotel tax
Museum recmves $753.000 annually from city to fund payroll, maintenmme of building and
benefits. Amount locked in six years ago. All operating funds received from city's general fund
and not hotel/motel tax. Can apply for funds frmn hotel/motel tax for construction of new
building. All exhibition and education programs funded through private donations. Museum
submits budget as part of city budget process.
City of Davenport
Mayor Charlie Brooks's office (Sheryl)
1-563-326-7711
Comptroller will send information to us in the next few days which we will furnish when
received.
Bettendorf Family Museum
Population: 30,000
Annual budget: $1.300.000
City Support: 877.000
Hotel/motel tax: variable
The museum receives appro×imately 60% of its operating budget as an appropriation from the
city's general fund. Support from the city comes from a variety of taxes- hotel/motel, property.
Exact amount of hotel/motel tax not available
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City of Bettendorf
Laurie Ulloa, Manager ot" Accounting
1-563-344-4000
The Museum is a department of the City and receives 60% of its operating budget from the City
of Bettendorf. All departments submit requests during the budget process which are presented by
the department head and reviewed by the City Administrator. The City Administrator makes the
"ultimate decision" and makes his/her recommendation to the City Council. A portion of the
hotel/motel tax is used to fund the Museum.
Sioux City Art Center
Population: 100,000
Annual budget: $I,000,000
City Support: 683,775
No hotel/motel tax
Museum receives approximately $683,775 a year from the city for salaries, utilities and building
maintenance from a property tax. Each department submits budget as part of city budget process.
City of Sioux City
Domta Forker, Budget Manager
1-7 t 2-279-6109
As part of its Boards and Commissions, Sioux City established an Arts Center Trustee Board.
People interested in serving on the Board submit an application and are interviewed by City
Council members. Appointees serve four terms and may be appointed for one additional term.
Eight members serve on the Board which meets monthly. The Board bas full authority to act.
This past year, the city appropriated $683,775 to the Art Center for salaries, utilities and building
maintenance. Funds are raised through property taxes. The Museum has a
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separate association--the Arts Center Association--a voluateer group which raises money for
educational programs and exhibitions.
Organizations submit applications for funds to the City Manager as part of the budget process
who then presents them to the City Council. The City has ultimate control over the budget
process yet the Board provides oversight of the process. Donna was clear that the Board works
with and not for the City Manager.
Cedar Ranids Museum of Art
Populatiou: l 13.000
Annual budget: $800.000
City Support: 30.000 (amount varies)
Hotelhnotel tax: Yes
The only money the Museurn receives is from hotel/motel tax. The amount varies from year to
year depending on the amount of revenue from the tax. The museum and other cultural
organizations go through a regular application process to receive money.
City of Cedar Rapids
Christina Larsen, Administrative Position IV
I-319-286-504 I
Voice Mail: Richard Luther
As part of its boards and commissions. Cedm' Rapids has a Visual Arts Commission consisting of
9 volunteers. The City requests applications and screens applicants through phone interviews and
submits its recmm'nended priorities to the cormnissionel,'s. Current commission members m'e then
each assigned to interview an applicant. The Mayor chooses his preferences.
The commission meets an average of once a month and does have a budget to support a
development adrninistrator to take minutes.
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The Museum resides in a city-owned building. The City allocates $5,000 a year for cultural
organizations: funds are collected from hotel/motel taxes. Any additional funding from the City
is handled through partnerships.
Waterloo Museum of Art
Population: 75,000
Annual budget: $678,467
City Support: 582.000
Hotel/motel tax: 9,000 (included in $582.000)
Museum receives approximately $500.000 from city's general fund for general operating support.
For 2001, the museum received $7.500 fi'om hotel/motel tax. Museum presents budget before
City Council.
City of Waterloo
They do have a commission called the Waterloo Cultural and Arts Commission.
which is a city department, organized by a city ordinance. The head of the commission is a city
department bead and is also the Director of the Waterloo Ceater for the Arts.
The commission is comprised of 11 members who are appointed by the mayor in an advisory
capacity. Members can serve up to two three-year terms. Members include two youth membem, a
city council member, president of the Friends of Waterloo Center for the Arts, and a cross section
of cornmunity members. Board members of local arts organizations can sit on the commission but
none currently do. At this point, the community representation includes the head of the
community foundation, an attome), all artist, aad a school representative among others.
Meetings m'e held on a monthly basis.
The Museum, which is basically the commission, submits a yearly budget to tbe city. No grants
are accepted by outside orgamzations.
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Mason City MacNider Museum
Population: 29.000
Annual budget: $424,000
City Support: 230.000
No hotel/motel tax:
Museum is a department of the city and receives $230,000 through a tax levy.
City of Mason City
They do not have a commission because the Masou City MacNider Museum serves in that role by
providing a space for cultural events, classes, and coordinating festivals. The museum is a
department of the city.
Ames Oct,aeon Center
Population: 50,731
Annual budget: $400.000
City Support: 37. 100 (average)
No hotel/motel tax
City created Commtsston on the Arts (COTA) which oversees funds received from a
discretionary sales tax. City diverts approximately $80.000 to all arts organizations. Museum
receives more than others, averaging $34,000 a year.
City Manager presents budget and makes recommendations for COTA funding. In addition to
COTA money, arts organizations may apply for mini grants to-fund non-operating projects
City of Ames
They do have a commission called the Ames Commission on the Arts (COTA)
which is an ad hoc advisory group that is under the city umbrella.
The commission is comprised of 5 members who are appointed by the mayor in an advisory
capacity. Mernbers can serve up to two three-year terms. No city council members are on it.
Meetings are held rnonthly.
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The budget is determined by the city. Last year's allocation was $9,451. COTA accepts grants,
reviews the grant application,s, and submits their recommendations to the city council. The city
council has veto power but this has never occurred. Arts groups also have the right to appeal the
process.
Fort Dodee Blanden Museum
Population: 27,500
Annual budget: $368,000
City Support: 189,[}00
No hotelhnotel tax
Museum receives funding through city's general fund. City owns the building and grounds and
pays for personnel City Parks and Recreation receives the hotel/motel tax,
City of Fort Dodge
City Clerk Penny Clayton
515-576-4551
They do not have an arts commission or task force. Tbeir art museum is city-owned and receives
about $200,000 to fund salaries and maintenance. There is also a privati: foundation to help make
up the difference. They also fund the Karl King Band at $26.000. This is a not-for-profit and
separate from the city government but very well-loved by the commumty. This funding is dune
through purchase of services. She stated that the arts are critical for the well-being ora
community. She also applauded our collaboration. She also offered to talk to us any time. She
was very helpful
Muscatine Art Center
Population: 24.000
Annual budget: $304,000
City Support: 225.000
No hotel/motel tax
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Museum is a department of the city. A separate foundation allocates ,$40,000 directly to the
Museum.
City of Muscatine
David Cassterens
563-263-4702
Their Art Center is owned by the city and treated as any other city department. David was
unclear on the actual commission structure. He asked me to contact the Art Center staff. I have
not done this yet.
Burlineton Art Guild
Population: 29,000
Annual budget: $75.000
City Support: 12.000
The Guild has received $12,000 in operational support from the city fbr 25 years. It is not a line
item in the budget and must be requested by the Guild each year. The money is granted annually.
but disbursed quarterly and is taken from the hotel/motel tax. Each year the Guild submits a letter
to the city requesting the funds with information about the disposition of the previous year's
money. Occasionally money has been distributed for capital projects through the Mayor's
discretionary fund.
City of Burlington
We are waiting for results and will furnish information as soon as it is available.