TO:
Honorable Mayor Powell and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
David N. Carmany, City Manager
FROM:
Richard Gill, Parks & Recreation Director
SUBJECT:Title
Request to Reinstate Partial Funding of $10,000 to Arts Manhattan for Two Art Exhibitions at the Creative Arts Center, and Appropriate $10,000 from the Public Art Trust Fund.
APPROVE
Body
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the request from Arts Manhattan to reinstate partial funding of $10,000 for two public art exhibitions at the City's Creative Arts Center and appropriate $10,000 from the Public Art Trust Fund.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Arts Manhattan is requesting $10,000 to fund two exhibitions at the Creative Arts Center. These funds have not been budgeted in the current fiscal year. If the request is approved, staff recommends that the City Council appropriate $10,000 from the Public Art Trust Fund which has a current unencumbered balance of $49,977 after the Centennial and Library art pieces and sculpture garden encumbrances. If approved, the fund balance would be reduced to $39,977 (Public Arts Trust Fund Report - Attachment 1).
BACKGROUND:
In July, the City Council received the attached letter (Arts Manhattan letter - Attachment 2) from Ms. Homeira Goldstein, Chairman of the Board for the non-profit agency Arts Manhattan. Ms. Goldstein, on behalf of Arts Manhattan, is requesting that the City reinstate one half of the City's funding given to Arts Manhattan annually prior to Fiscal Year 2010-2011 for their art exhibition program at the City's Creative Arts Center.
When the Creative Arts Center opened in 2002, the City allocated $20,000 annually to Arts Manhattan for the implementation of two art exhibitions at the Creative Arts Center. The exhibitions have consistently strived to inform and expand the community's understanding of contemporary art through a diverse range of media. It has aided in elevating the City's recreational program to a sophisticated and serious cultural art program. The exhibitions have also served as a promotional tool for the City and the Center through exhibition news coverage. The Arts Manhattan exhibitions brought in nationally-known artists that staff most likely would have not been able to attract.
Because of City budgetary concerns in Fiscal Year 2010-2011, the City eliminated funding to Arts Manhattan for this program.
DISCUSSION:
The attached letter from Arts Manhattan is requesting that the City reinstate $10,000 of the previous $20,000 grant. The letter also states that if $10,000 is approved, Arts Manhattan will curate two shows instead of one. If approved, the funds would be given to Arts Manhattan on a reimbursable basis. In the past, staff would reimburse Arts Manhattan (with appropriate documentation) for artist fees, supplies, and materials up to $20,000. Staff will continue this procedure if funding is approved.
As stated in the fiscal impact, there are no funds budgeted for this request in the current City budget. Staff recommends that if the request is approved, $10,000 be appropriated from the Public Art Trust fund which has an unreserved balance of $49,977.
On a related note, and as an informational point, another art organization in Manhattan Beach also had their grant funding eliminated during the City's budget cuts in Fiscal Year 2010-2011. Friends of Local Arts (F.O.L.A.) previously held Sunday Art shows in Metlox with City staff, with City-provided funds of $14,000.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the request from Arts Manhattan for $10,000 to reinstate two art exhibitions at the Creative Arts Center, and appropriate $10,000 from the Public Art Trust Fund.
Attachments:
1. Public Arts Trust Fund Report as of August 31, 2012
2. Request Letter from Arts Manhattan