20210920-4.a.i : Arts Commission Recommendation for ARPA funds allocation — original pdf

Recommendation

ARTS COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20210920-4.a.i Date: Subject: September 21, 2021 Arts Commission Recommendations regarding FY 21 allocation of American Rescue Plan Funds (ARPA) for relief programs for the arts community Recommendations The Commission recommends the allocation $5,403,600 in ARPA funds as follows: 1. Current cultural contractors in Core and Cultural Heritage Festivals who received less than $10K in relief funding (through at least four sources -- Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, ARPA-funded Arts and Culture Nonprofit Relief, Creative Space Assistance Program, and CARES Act-funded Nonprofit Relief for arts orgs), will receive 100% of their FY21 contract amount. Total: $1,861,125 2. Current cultural contractors in Core and Cultural Heritage Festivals who received less than $1M but more than $10K in relief funding (through at least four sources -- Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, ARPA-funded Arts and Culture Nonprofit Relief, Creative Space Assistance Program, and CARES Act-funded Nonprofit Relief for arts orgs), will receive 85% of their FY21 contract amount. Total: 3,439,348 3. This leaves a remainder of just under $200K, to be used as needed for adjustments or other emergency funding programs that can serve other small organizations or individuals not covered in this funding proposal recommendation. These other possible uses of these funds are still under discussion by the Working Group and CAD /EDD staff. Description of Recommendation to Council This recommendation is a follow up to the previous recommendation made on August 19, 2021 by the Arts Commission to use ARPA Arts Funds for emergency relief grants to provide immediate relief to artists/organizations. The Commission took the following actions at its September 20, 2021 Commission meeting: Motion to allocate $5,403,600 in ARPA funds as recommended by the Emergency Funding and Proactive Strategies for Future Funding Working Group to provide relief funds for the arts community. Motioned: Flores Seconded: Gray 10-0 For Michelle Polgar – Chair Celina Zisman – Vice Chair Brett Barnes, Jaime Castillo Lulu Flores 2 of 2 Acia Gray kYmberly Keeton Amy Mok Heidi Schmalbach Rick Van Dyke Against – None Abstain – None Rationale: Over the course of three meetings (held on 9/10/21, 9/13/21, and 9/15/21), invaluable contributions from staff, and deep consideration of the feedback received from the community, the Working Group came to the decision to award the ARPA funds in the method described above. The working group operated and made its recommendation based on the following factors and priorities:  Urgency  Need o Funds to be distributed as quickly as possible o Funding should stay within the FY21 cultural contractors pool to provide relief to help sustain a majority of contributors to our cultural ecosystem o Avoid the need for a 3rd party administrator for two reasons: time and the direct recipient contracting of the available $5,403,600 ARPA funding as possible, as said administrative/third party fees can be as high as 15%. o A data-driven process that considers receipt of other relief funds up to this point would o inform the funding recommendation, to ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution model. In working within the existing cultural contractor pool that was funded through the Equitable Economic Resiliency Framework that prioritizes BIPOC and other historically marginalized groups, we can ensure that funds are distributed with the City’s equity directive at the forefront. Attest: Anne-Marie McKaskle-Davis, Arts Commission Staff Liaison 2 of 2