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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-10-021 - Arts and Culture Sustainability Fund!- • -vmmur+ -~rvFces REPORT TO: Mayor and Members of Council DATE OF MEETING: March 22, 2010 SUBMITTED BY: Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services PREPARED BY: Ingrid Pregel, Manager, Cultural Development (Ext. 3383) WARD(S) INVOLVED: N/A DATE OF REPORT: March 12, 2010 REPORT NO.: CSD-10-021 SUBJECT: ARTS AND CULTURE SUSTAINABILITY FUND RECOMMENDATION: That one time allocation of the following investment amounts be made from the Arts and Culture Sustainability Fund: The (Children's) Museum $120,000 Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery $ 40,000 Kitchener Waterloo Symphony $ 40,000 Retain for emergency requests $ 20,000; and, That these organizations be notified by letter indicating: the purpose of the funds, the requirement for semi annual financial reporting to Council and the requirement to work with the Enabling Organization of the Prosperity Council and other arts organizations during 2010 with the aim to increase collective sustainability; and further, That consideration of replenishing the Fund to provide for ongoing investment funding beyond 2010 be referred to the 2011 Operating Budget Process. REPORT: On February 1, 2010 Council received CSD-10-009 (Prosperity Council Task Force on Creative Enterprise Funding Update) and approved the transfer of $220,000 from the Arts and Culture Capacity Building Fund to an Arts and Culture Sustainability Fund as an initial contribution by the City of Kitchener to support the commitment to work towards an additional $1. per capita annual investment in creative enterprise. Council's Arts and Culture Advisory Committee (ACAC) had in addition recommended to Council that those funds be provided to Prosperity Council's Enabling Organization for distribution. The Enabling Organization is not yet operational, nor has Council made the decision to provide these funds to an external organization for allocation. Wth the understanding that ACAC intended the recommendation to require collaboration with other municipal and private sector partners in the quest to stabilize the sector, staff met with municipal 7-1 counterparts and the Chair of the Board of the Enabling Organization to discuss the pressing needs of our arts organizations and determine the best strategy to stabilize them for 2010. It was agreed that the immediate needs are pressing this year and therefore any funds targeted as multi year should be allocated in 2010. Therefore this report recommends allocating the full fund this year and referring consideration of replenishing the investment fund for 2011 and beyond to the 2011 operating budget process instead of 2012 as originally envisioned. Council has received requests as identified below. Recommended allocations are based on Council's strategic priorities, planned programs, need and opportunities to leverage other sources of funding. Organization: Request Proposed Allocation % of Request The Museum $300,000 $120,000 40 KW Art Gallery $ 80,000 $ 40,000 50 KW Symphony $100,000 $ 40,000 40 Accountability to the public in exchange for these investment funds is important. It was also agreed that key arts organizations need to collaborate with one another and the Enabling Organization with the aim of achieving collective sustainability for the future. This requirement and semi annual financial reporting to Council is also recommended to be contained in the letters of transmittal accompanying the funds. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: As outlined in report. COMMUNICATIONS: Arts and Culture Advisory Committee discussed the creation of the Arts and Culture sustainability Fund at its meeting January 19, 2010 and made recommendations to Council. Principles for allocations from the fund have been discussed by members of staff with municipal partner counterparts and with the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Enabling Organization. The arts organizations requesting contributions from the Fund have received a copy of this report. CONCLUSION: Council of the City of Kitchener has for many years recognized the value provided to our citizens by the arts and culture community. The City has led the way to enable provision of world class facilities and programming. Allocations from the Arts and Culture sustainability Fund are an important investment in the continued quality of life we enjoy. ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, General Manager, Community Services 7 ~ 2