Arts Commission Update on the Cultural Trust — original pdf

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Cultural Trust Update Austin Arts Commission Update: April 19, 2021 Cultural Trust Background and Goals INITIAL GOAL OF CULTURAL TRUST In 2018, the City resolved to support "a community arts stabilization trust, the ‘Austin Cultural Trust’, that creates, through purchase and long-term lease, affordable spaces that supports artists and arts organizations, preserves historic and iconic cultural buildings and spaces for creative and cultural uses, and functions in a way that provides for cultural assets to exist in all parts of the city" - Resolution 20201001-055 In 2020, the City identified “To support acquisition and preservation of cultural spaces within the City of Austin,” as a function of AEDC. - Resolution 20201001-055 Austin EDC Cultural Trust | 2 Cultural Trust Goals – First Initiative Guided by the recommendations of the Joint Arts and Music Commission,* research into best practices, and stakeholder feedback. AEDC will propose additional measures for the Cultural Trust to address other Austin cultural needs, but this first step is targeted toward acquiring and preserving spaces. • Create a competitive RFP to fund an initial set of organizations • Use AEDC as broker, asset and facilities manager to save City money • Leverage existing funds using AIDC or private debt • Spaces would be owned by the City as permanent cultural infrastructure but made available for use to organizations under a lease, license, operating agreement or other appropriate use agreement. • Prioritize support for organizations based on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles • Spaces would be made available to organizations at affordable rates *https://www.speakupaustin.org/bond-for-creative-space Austin EDC Cultural Trust | 3 Timeline RFI Issued Fall 2020 Market Research Nov 2020 Previous Cultural Work Review (CAMP, CSAP venue survey data, September Joint Arts & Music Commission Creative Space Bond update) Dec 2020 Review Past RFI and RFI Responses Jan 2021 Convene Advisory Committee + Conduct Outreach* Feb-Apr 2021 Issue an RFP Spring 2021 *Discussions with banks, philanthropy, impact capital, and City capital sources Austin EDC Cultural Trust | 4 Program Summary Competitive RFP to fund two types of projects as a first initiative Outcome: Acquire venues with associated qualified operators for long-term ownership by the City of Austin for the public benefit of enhanced access to creative and cultural facilities Priority: Financial and Operating Capacity Outcome: Provide affordable multi-use space for cultural organizations with a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Priority: Policy Goal Alignment Anticipated outcome: 1-2 existing venues saved Anticipated Outcome: 4-6 organizations sharing 2 AEDC managed spaces Anticipated funding source: Iconic Venue Fund ("HOT") Anticipated funding source: Creative Space Bond Austin EDC Cultural Trust | 5 RFP Release Timeline Pre-Issuance City of Austin/AEDC Interlocal Agreement authorization Planned for May City of Austin, CTAC RFP review Host public information session and conduct outreach Present to Joint Arts and Music Commission April - May Publish notice of RFP Issue RFP Post Issuance Pre-Response Meeting Receive & Post Responses to Q&A Pre-Response Meeting #2 Responses Due AEDC Staff Evaluation Austin EDC Anticipating approximately six weeks for responses Cultural Trust | 6 Source Anticipated Amount Hypothetical Capital Stack Potential Financing Structure Public Equity + Other* Varies Organization Equity Competitive criteria for capacity, less weighted for policy Debt Maximum loan amount based on DSCR constraint Public Equity + Other Organization Equity Debt *Potentially includes philanthropic support or other sources of funding, as available. Category 1 Austin EDC Cultural Trust | 7 RFP Evaluation Criteria: Evaluation Framework Minimum Eligibility Criteria for All Respondents • Respondents must propose to operate a cultural arts or music venue that is generally available for use and enjoyment by the public. o Cultural venues may include but not be limited to live music venues, performing arts venues, visual art exhibition and production facilities, and other buildings and spaces for creative and cultural uses. o Operators may include either for-profit- or non- profit entities. + • • Proposed cultural arts and music venue sites must be located within the City of Austin. Respondents must demonstrate willingness to meet minimum requirements set by the AEDC and City of Austin, including but not limited to ensuring that employees are paid a living wage. Sole Operators Respondents eligible to solely operate a venue: • • Required to meet all capacity criteria Prioritized by policy alignment Joint Operators for Shared Space Respondents that do not meet all capacity criteria: • Evaluated primarily on policy alignment • Capacity taken into account • Eligible for participation in joint operation of a shared space Austin EDC Cultural Trust | 8 Cultural Trust Advisory Committee (CTAC) RFP Evaluation Committee Update • CTAC is an open advisory committee of AEDC. • We have a rolling membership window and are still accepting new members. • Members must agree to 10-15 hours of work plus attending bi-monthly meetings • Members must have no conflict of interest and cannot receive money from the Trust directly or indirectly, nor become an occupant of a Trust building nor be a service provider to same. • The RFP Evaluation Committee will include AEDC staff and selected CTAC members. • We are continuing to seek CTAC members and RFP Evaluation Committee members, in particular we are making a call for more diverse participation. • Evaluation committee members must submit an application: • https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=BN1QNYRm4Ei-kjz- _67LpBWj7vKjjyZMlvCQoxLwMqJUNlFKNjRRNTFEVFkxWjdLSkJVRzQ4VTg2Mi4u Austin EDC Cultural Trust | 9 AEDC Next Steps Before RFP Release Approval of CMO to go to Council and confirmation of available capital sources with Council approval Coordinate with existing efforts including private donors and technical assistance nonprofits Stakeholder RFP Review by City and CTAC Engage in public communications including public info sessions, PR, and Joint Arts & Music Commission. 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