Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes accepting a $500,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and amending the Planning Division’s 2022 adopted operating budget by the same amount to support the “Artist at Work” grant program. No additional City appropriation is required with the acceptance of this grant.
Title
Amending the 2022 adopted operating budget for the Planning Division, Neighborhood Planning, Preservation and Design Section to accept $500,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts and authorizing the Madison Arts Commission (MAC) to issue an application and guidelines to initiate a competitive process to select “Artist at Work” subgrantees for the funds through the MAC annual grant process
Body
WHEREAS, to support a full creative life for all, the Madison Arts Commission (MAC) commits to championing policies and practices of cultural equity that empower a just, inclusive, equitable City; and
WHEREAS, the COVID19 pandemic caused sudden and overwhelming losses of income for cultural sector workers and a steep decline in revenue opportunities for the sector as a whole; and
WHEREAS, on August 6, 2021 the Common Council approved a resolution supporting the City’s application to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in RES-21-00549; File ID #66396, for a Grant to Local Arts Agencies to be used to assist our community in responding to the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a contract with the NEA to receive and use these funds should they be awarded; and
WHEREAS, a $500,000 infusion of grant funding will help support creative workers and lead to economic recovery from COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, our subgrant program, “Artist at Work,” will identify between 15-30 non-profit arts organizations establishing new sustainable positions for creative workers or those who wish to reinstate positions they previously cut due to the impact of the pandemic; and
WHEREAS, $50,000 of the award will go towards staff support for administration of this grant, video documentation, promotion, marketing, and community engagement, as well as incidental administrative costs; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison has been awarded a $500,000 American Rescue Plan Grant to Local Arts Agencies for Subgranting from the NEA to support “Artist at Work” grants and the administration thereof.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Clerk are hereby authorized to accept and execute the terms of the National Endowment for the Arts Grant;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Planning Division - Neighborhood Planning, Preservation, and Design 2022 adopted operating budget is hereby amended to appropriate $500,000 in grant revenue from the National Endowment for the Arts, where $450,000 will be regranted to arts non-profits in Madison and $50,000 will be allocated for staff support for administration of this grant, video documentation, promotion, marketing, and community engagement, as well as incidental administrative costs;
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that these “Artist at Work” subgrants will be awarded and administered as part of the Madison Arts Commission annual grant process.