Town of Chapel Hill header
File #: [25-0123]    Version: 1 Name:
Type: Discussion Item Status: Passed
File created: 2/21/2025 In control: Town Council
On agenda: 3/12/2025 Final action: 3/12/2025
Title: FY25 Town Arts and Culture Award Program Recommendations
Attachments: 1. A RESOLUTION FOR FY25 DISTRIBUTION OF ARTS-RELATED PROGRAMS, 2. FY25 Town Arts Project Summaries, 3. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER TO ENTER INTO PERFORMANCE AGREEMENTS AND DISTRIBUTE FUNDS TO CREATE ARTS-RELATED PROGRAMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS OF CHAPEL HILL (2025-03-12/R-6)

AGENDA ITEM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

ITEM TITLE*

title

FY25 Town Arts and Culture Award Program Recommendations

presenter

RESPONSIBLE STAFF, TITLE, DEPARTMENT*

Atlas Logan, Director, Community Arts & Culture Department

Steve Wright, Public Art Coordinator, Community Arts & Culture Department

STAFF RECOMMENDATION*

Staff recommends that Council adopt a resolution to authorize the Town Manager to enter into performance agreements with the recommended local nonprofit agencies to conduct arts- and culture-related programs for the benefit of the Chapel Hill residents and approves the fund distribution.

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ACTION/DECISION POINTS*

 Note: It is possible that at least one council member will need to ask council to approve a motion to recuse them from acting on this resolution, as they may serve on one or more of these boards that would receive funds.

LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT*

In 2023, the Council authorized staff to create an Arts & Culture Award Program to enter into performance agreements with local nonprofit agencies that agree to conduct art-related projects for the benefit of the residents of Chapel Hill.

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT*

Now in its second year, this program received 13 applications for project funding, totaling $122,500 in requests. The award program review team, comprised of Town staff, local artists, and representative(s) of groups serving historically marginalized communities, is responsible for evaluating applications and advising Council of funding needs. The Town will enter into Performance Agreements with these agencies that will establish performance measures and reporting requirements. Funds are allocated to the program and paid out to approved applicants in the same fiscal year.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

The Town will provide these funds as grants to these organizations. The FY25 Town Arts & Culture Award program budget allocation is $43,500. Because funding the top five finalists would cost a total of $45,000, we split the $1,500 difference equally among the finalists.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION

Staff applied an equity lens to their selection by creating a diverse selection committee including the Town’s Human Relations Officer, Community Relations Manager, Director of Library and Community Arts & Culture, local artists, and representative(s) of groups serving historically marginalized communities, and two previous award winners. A rubric was used to score applications and the top five are being proposed for approval.

ATTACHMENTS

Town Arts and Culture Award program_Resolution

Town Arts and Culture Award program_Project Summaries

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