AGENDA ITEM EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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FY 2026 Arts and Culture Awards Program Recommendations
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RESPONSIBLE STAFF, TITLE, DEPARTMENT
Atlas Logan, Director, Library and Community Arts & Culture Department
Steve Wright, Public Art Coordinator, Community Arts & Culture
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommend that Council adopt (2026-03-25/R-1) to approve FY26Arts & Culture Awards recipients.
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ACTION/DECISION POINTS
Council must approve or reject the recommendations.
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. The FY26 Award Program budget totals $43,500.
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
Orange County nonprofits can apply to seek up to $10,000 in funding for an arts or cultural project to take place within Chapel Hill Town limits. Projects could include community festivals and special events, public art (e.g. murals, sculptures, installations), or arts experiences (e.g. workshops, classes, performances, exhibits).
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Staff recommend that Town Council award the following amounts:
$9,666 to each of the following four applicants who applied for $10K awards: Bridging the Gap, EMPOWERment Inc., Prism Design Lab, Orange County Rape Crisis Center
$4,836 to ArtsCenter which applied for a $5K award.
These specific amounts are ~96% of each awardee's requested amount, and their sum total equals the $43,500 Award Program budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
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. Funds are allocated to the program and paid out to approved applicants in the same fiscal year.
ATTACHMENTS
FY26 Arts and Culture Award Program - Resolution
Arts and Culture Awards - Project Summaries
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