Arts and Cultural Funding Program for Operating Support FY 2011C ity of Dubuque
.Arts & CuCturaCA fairs Advisory Commission
�J
June 14, 2010
The Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13 Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Re: Arts and Culture Funding Program for Operating Support
FY 2011 Funding Requests and Commission Recommendations
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
Introduction
The Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission has reviewed thirteen funding
requests from Dubuque arts and culture organizations requesting $252,274 in funds
from the FY 2011 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 Tong -term
viability for existing arts and culture organizations and to create a welcoming
environment for new organizations. The Commission reviewed funding requests for FY
2006, FY 2007, FY 2008 and FY 2009 and recommended that the council award
funding to 12 organizations for FY 2006 totaling $200,000 and 9 organizations for FY
2007 totaling $200,000, 11 organizations in FY 2008 totaling $200,000 and 12
organizations for FY 2009 totaling $200,000 and 13 organizations in FY 2010 totaling
$200,000. The sixth round of competition (FY 2011) for the operating support program
was announced in February, 2010. 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 application workshops in February to provide an overview of
the program and answer questions. In addition, staff was available to provide
assistance to applicant organizations on an individual basis throughout the application
period.
Discussion
The Commission received funding requests from thirteen different Dubuque Arts and
Culture organizations. Based on the maximum funding levels initially established for the
program, (6% of organization's previous year's operating expenses or $50,000,
whichever is less) the funding requests totaled $252,274. Total funding available in the
FY 2011 budget is $200,000. Budget constraints have limited the Commission's ability
to fully fund the eligible organizations. The Commission was aware that due to a static
budgeted amount for the Arts and Culture Operating Support Program coupled with an
increasing number of eligible applicant organizations and the increased operating
budgets of those organizations, it was highly unlikely that organizations would be
funded at the maximum funding formulas. The program guidelines stated "It is likely
that qualified organizations will not be funded at this level; actual awards will be based
on the number of eligible applicants and the degree to which applicant meets selection
criteria." The Commission also established a point value for the various rating criteria
to assist with ranking 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. After extensive discussion, the
consensus of the Commission is to recommend to City Council the following:
a) Reduce the maximum funding cap from $50,000 to $40,000, or 6% of an
organization's operating expenditures. Reduction of the funding cap directly
impacts the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra, 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:
90 points or above: 5.7% of organization's operating expenditures
85 - 89 points: 5.2% of organization's operating expenditures
80 -84 points: 4% of organization's operating expenditures
79 points and below: 3.5% of organization's operating expenditures
Based on this funding scenario there was $465 remaining and the commission is
recommending that this amount be added to the award to the top scoring applicant, the
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra.
Recommended funding levels are:
Organization Score Amount
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra 95.1 40,465
Bell Tower Productions 93.3 13,098
Dubuque Arts Council 91.2 5,186
Dubuque County Historical Society 90.3 40,000
Fly-By -Night Productions 87.7 1,143
Dubuque Main Street/Cultural Corridor 87.6 5,566
Dubuque Museum of Art 87.5 22,888
Colts Drum and Bugle Corps 87.3 40,000
Dubuque Chorale 84.7 789
Grand Opera House 82.7 16,962
Dubuque County Fine Arts Society 80.2 2,668
Northeast Iowa School of Music 79.2 5,696
Dubuque Arboretum 76.4 5,539
Total 200,000
A spreadsheet is attached which details the recommended funding levels as well as the
operating support funding provided to the organizations in FY 2010.
Action
The Council is requested to approve the thirteen FY 2011 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,
Geri Shafer
Chairperson
Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission
Encl.
Cc: Grant Applicants
fy 2011 Worksheet
Operating Support Funding Requests Allocation Worksheet
fy 2011 Worksheet
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra
Bell Tower Productions
Dubuque Arts Council
Dubuque County Historical
Fly -By -Night Productions
Dubuque Main Street Ltd.
Dubuque Museum of Art
Colts Drum & Bugle
Dubuque Chorale
fy 10 funding
$40, 000.00
$11,311.00
$3,816.00
$40,000.00
$472.00
$0.00
$23,871.00
$40,000.00
$243.00
Grand Opera House $26,954.00
Dubuque Fine Arts Society $3,003.00
Northeast Iowa School of Music $6,044.00
Dubuque Arboretum $4,286.00
$200,000.00
max funding
6% or
oper exp $50,000 score
66,698
162,753
158,248
9,344,367
252,274
Scores 40000 cap
>95 =6 na
90- 94 =5.7
85- 89 =5.2
80 -85=4
<80 =3.5
851,354 50,000 95.1 40,465
229,784 13,787 93.3 13098
90,984 $5,459.00 91.2 5186
5,459,478 50,000 90.3 40,000
21,973 1,318 87.7 1143
107,030 6,422 87.6 5566
440,156 26,409 87.5 22888
1,312,124 50,000 87.3 40,000
19,733 1184 84.7 789
424,052 25,443 82.7 16962
4,002 80.2 2668
9,765 79.2 5696
8,485 76.4 5539
200,000