Resolution - Civic Center: Consider a resolution approving the recommendation from the Cultural Arts Grant Review Committee and the Civic Lubbock, Inc. Board of Directors, for the 2021 Cultural Arts Grant Program, using Hotel Occupancy Tax funds collected at the end of FY 2019-20.
Item Summary
Civic Lubbock, Inc. (CLI) administers an allocation of Hotel Occupancy Tax that is used to underwrite local visual and performing arts programs. The Cultural Arts Grant Program (CAGP) is funded through a portion of the Hotel Occupancy Tax allocation, and those funds are used in making grant awards to local non-profit organizations for the encouragement, promotion, improvement, and application of the arts and the promotion of tourism in the Lubbock community.
The total allocation paid to CLI for the 2021 programs was $355,782.90, which represents 5.92120% of the hotel/motel tax collected at the end of FY 2019/2020. Of that amount, $35,578.29, which is 10%, is allocated for a Public Art Program, and $15,000.00 has been set aside by CLI for a proposed Live Music Performance Grant Program that will be available to local hotels to provide live music. The Live Music Grant Program will come before the City Council for consideration in the Fall of 2021. This leaves $305,204.61 available for the 2021 CAGP. In addition, $2,167.56 in interest on prior-year funds, declined 2019 grant funds of $8,067, and a carry-over of $0.04 from the 2019 funds, provides a total of $315,439.21 available for this cycle of Cultural Arts grants. CLI elected to absorb any administrative expense in administering this program, so the entire amount available for the 2021 CAGP is $315,439.21.
The Cultural Arts Grant Review Committee and the CLI Board recently reviewed and revised the CAGP Guidelines and Procedures. One change implemented beginning in 2021, was converting to one grant cycle per year, which is standard with most other granting entities and foundations. Local organizations will have more advance notice of any approved grant funding, and will receive their 60% portion of the grant award which is paid upon execution of their grant agreement, much earlier.
A Grant Workshop was held on May 4, 2021, for first-time applicants wishing to apply for a Cultural Arts Grant. Twenty-nine applications were received by the June 1, 2021 deadline. The CAGP Review Committee has recommended full or partial funding for all twenty-nine applicants.
The CAGP Review Committee, comprised of appointments by the City Council and representatives of the CLI Board of Directors, submitted their recommendations to the full CLI Board at their June 28, 2021 meeting. These recommendations are now being presented to City Council for approval.
The CAGP Review Committee and the CLI Board of Directors are requesting approval of $315,439.00 in grant awards for the 2021 CAGP.
All applicants recommended for grant awards are in good standing with the City and CLI.
Fiscal Impact
None
Staff/Board Recommending
Brooke Witcher, Assistant City Manager Cultural Arts Grant Program Review Committee Civic Lubbock, Inc. Board of Directors