FY 08 Arts and Culture Funding Operating SupportCity of Dubuque
.Arts & CuCturaC.~l
May 28, 2007
The Honorable Mayor and City Council
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque,lA 52001
airs Advisory Commission
Re: Arts and Culture Funding Program for Operating Support
FY 2008 Funding Requests and Commission Recommendations
Dear Mayor and City Council Members:
Introduction
The Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission has reviewed eleven funding
requests from Dubuque arts and culture organizations requesting $292,421 in funds
from the FY 2008 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 reviewed funding requests for FY
2006 and FY 2007 and recommended that the council award funding to 12
organizations for FY 2006 totaling $200,000 and 9 organizations for FY 2007 totalling
$200,000. The third round of competition (FY 2008) for the operating support program
was announced in March, 2007 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 March to provide an overview of the
program and answer questions.
Discussion
The Commission received funding requests from eleven different 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 $292,421. Total funding available in the FY 2008 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."
Selection criteria for the program are:
1. Funding shall provide general organization support to Dubuque Arts and
Cultural organizations whose programs/services benefit Dubuque residents.
2. Support will be provided to organizations that have:
a. demonstrated artistic excellence and leadership
b. demonstrated public benefit
c. demonstrated management abilities (financial position or condition,
fiscal responsibility, and management.}
3. Impact of organization on broader Dubuque Community.
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. Reduction of the
funding cap will directly impact the Dubuque County Historical Society this
year.
b) Fund organizations at 4.85% of their operating expenditures with the
exception of Four Mounds Foundation and Colts Drum and Bugle Corps
which will be funded at 2.42% of their operating expenditures.
While the Commission values the significant contributions both the Colts Drum and
Bugle Corps and Four Mounds Foundation make to the City of Dubuque, budget
constraints have forced the Commission to utilize the selection criteria in making
determinations on funding levels.
Four Mounds Foundation is an eligible organization due to their work in preserving a
cultural resource for the community. However, the Commission considered that a large
portion of the Foundation's operations are social service and educational in nature and
they do not have the same impact on the broader Dubuque as some of the other arts
and culture organizations.
The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps also has a positive impact not only on the youth it
serves, but on the community. The Commission acknowledges this and appreciates the
thorough narrative provided by the applicant. However, the Commission considered the
significant portions of the operating budget spent on out of area travel expenses and the
large number of concerts held outside of the Dubuque area in recommending funding at
2.42% of the Colts Operating budget.
Recommended funding levels are:
Bell Tower Productions 14,213.
Colts Drum and Bugle 19,978
Dubuque Arts Council 5,067
Dubuque Museum of Art 24,025
Dubuque County Historical Soc. 40,000
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra 33,434
Fly-By-Night Productions 1,406
Northeast Iowa School of Music 11,487
Four Mounds Foundation 16,289
Grand Opera House 25,871
Total 200,000
The Dubuque Arboretum submitted an application after the deadline. The Commission
did not review the application and is not recommending funding.
A spreadsheet is attached which details the recommended funding levels as well as the
operating support funding provided to the organizations in FY 2007 and FY 2006.
Action
The Council is requested to approve the eleven FY 2008 Arts and Culture Operating
Support funding requests and authorize the City Manager to sign the funding
agreements.
The Commission is very appreciative of the City Council's support of arts and cultural
organizations and is looking forward to working together to support the artistic and
cultural development of the City.
Sincerely,
Sue Riedel
Chairperson
Arts and Cultural Affairs Advisory Commission
Encl.
Cc: Dubuque Museum of Art
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra
Dubuque Arboretum
Colts Drum and Bugle Corps
Northeast Iowa School of Music
Dubuque County Historical Society
Dubuque Arts Council
Bell Tower Productions
Dubuque County Fine Arts Society
Grand Opera House
Four Mounds Foundation
FY2008 Arts and Cultural Affairs Commission
Operating Support Funding Requests Allocation Worksheet
4.85% with
$40,000 max
2.42% for Four -
Mounds & Colts
8% with
Current $50,000 Max 68.4% of
Operating OS Proposed (Original Original 5%with 4%with
Expenditure Allocation OlAllocation 06 Allocation Formula} 5% 3.71% Formula $40,000 Max $45,000 Max
Bell Tower Productions $ 293,054 $14,213:12 $ 15,850 $ 9,657 $ 17,583 $ 14,653 $ 10,872 $ 12,026.94 $ 14,653 $ 11,722
Colts Drum & Bugle $ 821,015 $19,978.24. $ 18,497 $ - $ 49,261 $ 41,051 $ 30,460 $ 33,694.46 $ 20,525 $ 32,841
Dubuque Arts Council $ 104,466 $5,066.60 $ 3,666 $ 3,851 $ 6,268 $ 5,223 $ 3,876 $ 4,287.28 $ 5,223 $ 4,179
Dubuque Fine Arts Society $ 46,400 $2,250.40 $ - $ 3,598 $ 2,784 $ 2,320 $ 1,721 $ 1,904.26 $ 2,320 $ 1,856
Dubuque Museum of Art $ 515,972 $25,024.64. $ 22,848 $ 25,486 $ 30,958 $ 25,799 $ 19,143 $ 21,175.49 $ 25,799 $ 20,639
Dubuque County Historical $ 3,593,389 $40,000.00 $ 50,000 $ 50,000 $ 50,000 $ 50,000 $ 50,000 $ 34,200.00 $ 40,000 $ 45,000
Dubuque Symphony Orchestra $ 792,452 $38,433.92. $ 38,780 $ 33,478 $ 47,547 $ 39,623 $ 29,400 $ 32,522.23 $ 39,623 $ 31,698
Fly-By-Night Productions $ 28,992 $1,406.11 $ - $ 725 $ 1,740 $ 1,450 $ 1,076 $ 1,189.83 $ 1,450 $ 1,160
Northeast Iowa School of Music $ 236,845 $11,486.98 $ 13,047 $ 11,755 $ 14,211 $ 11,842 $ 8,787 $ 9,720.12 $ 11,842 $ 9,474
Four Mountls Foundation $ 667,737 $16,268.92 $ - $ 24,796 $ 40,064 $ 33,387 $ 24,773 $ 27,403.93 $ 16,693 $ 26,709
Grantl Opera House $ 533,424 $25,871.06 $ 27,905 $ 28,791 $ 32,005 $ 26,671 $ 19,790 $ 21,891.72 $ 26,671 $ 21,337
Dubuque Arboretum $ - $0.00 $ 9,407 $ 5,857 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
Dubuque Main Street $ - $0.00 $ - $ 2,000 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
$ 7,633,746 $200,000.00 $ 200,000 $ 199,994 $ 292,421 $ 252,018 $ 199,897 $ 200,016 $ 204,799 $ 206,614
With $200,000 Budget $ (92,421) $ (52,018) $
103 $
(16) $ (4,799) $ (6,614)