Title
Request to Accept a Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs Challenge Grant (NB)
This item involves a request to accept a Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs Challenge grant for the Liquid Muse: Paintings from the St. Johns Region traveling art exhibition and related events.
Explanation
On September 6, 2007, the City of Gainesville's Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Thomas Center Gallery applied for a Florida Department of State Challenge grant in the amount of $49,500. The purpose of the grant is to support a catalogue, educational materials, website, DVD, promotional items, and artwork crating expenses for the Liquid Muse: Paintings from the St. Johns Region traveling art exhibition and related events. The exhibition is scheduled to open at the Thomas Center Main Gallery in August 2008, and run through October 2008, before traveling to venues in Deland, Tallahassee, Palatka, and Jacksonville, Florida.
Co-sponsors for the project include the Artists Alliance of North Florida (AAONF), the University of Florida's Harn Museum of Art Education Department, and Art for a Complete Education (ACE), who will produce an education guidebook for use by K-12 teachers. The guidebook will include suggestions for classroom projects documenting the role of the river over the past 10,000 years. In collaboration with the Liquid Muse exhibition, Santa Fe Community College is planning a statewide symposium, Preserving the Past/Sustaining the Future, scheduled for October 2008, and the Santa Fe Community College Art Gallery plans to host an exhibition during Fall 2008, titled Springs Eternal focusing on the preservation of the region's fragile hydrologic network.
Fiscal Note
The Division of Cultural Affairs is requesting $49,500 from the Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs Challenge Grant to cover 48% of the project cost. The remaining $52,742 will consist of both in-kind and cash match. $21,700 is in-kind and the cash match will consist of $7,190 paid from the City of Gainesville Division of Cultural Affairs FY2008 budget, $17,800 from other private support, and $6,052 provided by Santa Fe Community College.
Recommendation
Recommended Motion: The City Commission approve the request to accept a Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs Challenge grant for the Liquid Muse: Paintings from the St. Johns Region art exhibition and related events, if awarded, and authorize the City Manager or designee to execute any related documents pending approval by the City Attorney as to form and legality.
Alternative Recommendation: The City Commission deny the request to accept a Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs Challenge grant if awarded funding for the Liquid Muse: Paintings from the St. Johns Region art exhibition and related events.