Economic Development, Placemaking and Branding/Marketing Committee TO: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, DATE: MARCH 24, 2022
PLACEMAKING AND BRANDING/MARKETING
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
FROM: COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WARDS: ALL
DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: ARTIST IN RESIDENCE AND EMERGING ARTIST GRANTS FOR UPCOMING FISCAL YEARS 2022-2023 AND 2023-2024 IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $85,000 ISSUE:
Receive, review, and provide input on the Artist in Residence and Emerging Artist Grants for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2022/23 and 2023/24 in the total amount of $85,000.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Economic Development, Placemaking and Branding/Marketing Committee recommend that the City Council:
Receive, review, and provide input on the Artist in Residence and Emerging Artist Grants programs; Approve staff’s recommendation for an increase of $75,000 annually for a two-year pilot program of an Artist in Residence Program; Approve staff’s recommendation for an increase of $10,000 annually and a name change from the Emerging Artist Grant Program to the Public Art Riverside (PAR) Grant; and Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute any necessary, financial, or legal documents with the approved organizations and/or artists, including making minor and non-substantive changes, to implement the Arts & Culture Grant Program.
BACKGROUND:
At the February 15, 2022, meeting, the City Council appointed Councilmember Cervantes to substitute for Councilmember Edwards on the Economic Development, Placemaking, and Branding/Marketing Committee for discussion on Fiscal Year 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 Arts and Culture grant awards in the amount of $288,484 for Arts and Culture organizations serving the City.
DISCUSSION:
Arts & culture grants have provided stability and opportunities for art organizations and artists, respectively, over twenty years. Artist organizations and artists will continue to need this support, especially at this time, given the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Historically, art organizations across the country are underfunded. As the City of Arts & Innovation, the City has a responsibility to ensure that arts and culture is strengthened and diversified; this funding is a strategic way that this can occur.
Looking towards the future, City Councilmembers and staff believe there is room for some changes/modifications to some of the programming and funding. After discussions and updated research of various types of funding provided by other cities to support arts and culture, staff is currently recommending no changes to the approved process and funding for the Arts & Culture Grant.
Staff is recommending the following changes/updates to funding for outside individuals/artists, organizations, and/or non-profits:
1. Emerging Artist Grant:
a. Change of name to Public Art Riverside (PAR) Grant – Since the inception and recently speaking with local artists, this name more accurately addresses who receives the grant. The name change also gives more credibility to artists’ resumes for awards and work. b. Increase the total funding by $10,000 for a total of $20,000 per year to address the rising costs of equipment, paint, resources for the artists. c. Increase the award amounts to up to $2,000 to individual artists.
2. Artist in Residence: Creation of a new fund to support the creative economy and to strengthen creative placemaking across our community. Staff is recommending this as a two (2) year pilot program. Elements of this program will include:
a. $75,000 per fiscal year to implement with an application and selection process b. Three (3) artists receive $20,000 to complete two (2) public art projects in a specified geographic region. c. Each artist selected would have two or three Wards they would work in. d. Community engagement would be required and/or community participation. e. Support would be given to the artists regarding resources, introductions, etc. f. An additional $15,000 for additional costs for lifts, paint, etc.
This funding would not be guaranteed; specific documentation and qualifications would be required.
Staff recommends coming back to City Council to give an update at the end of the two-year pilot program for the Artist in Residence program.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
The Arts and Grant Programs support Strategic Priority 1 – Arts, Culture and Recreation and Goals 1.1 and 1.2: learning, arts, culture, recreation, senior programs, and partnerships, as well as facilitation of requests for in-kind sponsorship related to various City amenities. Because of the diversity of the programs, Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being and Goals 2.3 – 2.5 are also addressed through programs related to developing a sense of community, community engagement, neighborhoods, and partnerships.
This item aligns with each of the Cross-cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust:
Grants are fully documented in the staff reports that are presented to City Council.
Equity:
As applications are evaluated, there is particular attention to organizations that seek to serve populations representing the diversity of Riverside.
Programs and services are directed and supported in all Wards.
Fiscal Responsibility:
The grant programs are included in the Arts & Cultural Affairs Division operating budget, placing it directly within the sphere of accountability that encompasses each staff member’s work, through the supervision of City Management, to the City Council.
Additionally, these grant monies are leveraged through the organizations to provide community-enhancing activities throughout the calendar year, which multiply the value and impact of those dollars.
Innovation:
The programs operate through each budget cycle; there is broad opportunity for applicants and programs to be innovative in response to community needs, new trends, and inspiration.
The frequency of the applications and cycles encourages innovation because it mitigates risk in a way that a project of longer duration cannot, and that frequency also allows for flexibility in response to emerging needs of the community and arts & culture.
Sustainability & Resiliency:
The non-profit organizations and artists in our community represent such broad and diverse areas of interest that they serve as a barometer of our community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact of this action is $85,000 annually. The funding for the Arts Programs has been included in the Proposed Biennial Budget for FY 2022/24.
Prepared by: Chris Christopoulos, Acting Community & Economic Development Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer Approved by: Rafael Guzman, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachment: Presentation
Arts Grants Update Page 3