Title
FY 13 & FY14 Outside Agency Funding (B)
This item requests that the City Commission approve the funding recommendation of the Gainesville-Alachua County Cultural Affairs Board (GACCAB) for the Outside Agency cultural grants program.
Explanation
The Gainesville-Alachua County Cultural Affairs Board uses the Cultural Plan to evaluate Outside Agency grant applications, assessing each application for its ability to meet criteria specified in the Plan, including arts and cultural accessibility, education and audience development.
A public scoring workshop was conducted on May 5, 2012, to review applications and score agencies for funding. Applications were received from fourteen agencies this year and all fourteen are recommended for funding.
Evaluation of applicants takes into consideration the City's Cultural Plan, the applicants' fiscal and artistic history, verification of 501 (c) 3 status as a "not-for-profit" agency, and how well the agency's application meets specific criteria outlined in the grant guidelines such as, audience development, project management and program merit. Prior to submitting their applications, all applicants are provided with a complete copy of evaluative criteria. Applicants must score 80 points or better to be eligible for funds.
In keeping with the City's two-year budget cycle, grant awards are for a two-year period, similar to granting procedures of the State's Division of Cultural Affairs. Applicants' requests and award amounts are based on a tiered funding system for small, medium and large agencies, with request caps based on agencies' last closed fiscal year expenditures budget. This results in awards more closely aligned with each agency's operational needs.
Agency Name Budget & Grants Recommended Award
Large Agencies
Cultural Arts Coalition $4,503
Danscompany $6,806
Gainesville Community Playhouse $5,072
Gainesville Youth Chorus $6,016
Gainesville Association for Creative Arts, Inc. $7,227
Matheson Museum $4,562
Total Large Agencies $34,186
Medium Agencies
Arts Association of Alachua County $5,061
Gainesville Civic Chorus $3,860
Gainesville Friends of Jazz $2,475
Total Medium Agencies $11,396
Small Agencies
Acrosstown Repertory Theatre $1,417
Gainesville Harmony Show Chorus $2,099
Latina Women's League $2,868
North Central Florida Blues Society $2,285
Sun Country Dance $2,727
Total Small Agencies $11,396
Fiscal Note
The current funding level for the Outside Agency grant program is $56,978. Award recommendations are based on current funding level, subject to final budget deliberations and allocations in the budget process. Should the funding level decrease, agency grant awards will be decreased proportionately to ensure the total award amounts do not exceed the total amount available for the Outside Agency grant program.
Recommendation:
The City Commission: 1) hear a brief presentation by Gainesville-Alachua County Cultural Affairs Board Chair Carol Velasques Richardson, regarding FY 13 & FY14 Outside Agency cultural grant awards; and 2) approve the FY 13 & FY14 Outside Agency cultural grant awards as recommended by the Gainesville-Alachua County Cultural Affairs Board, contingent upon adoption of the final FY 13 & FY14 City of Gainesville budget.