Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

From:

Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

CC:

Kathy Porsch, Chairperson – Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission

Date:

April 17, 2012

RE:

18th Annual Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission Community Arts Grants

 

Please include the following item on the City Commission consent agenda for the April 24, 2012 meeting.

 

Authorize the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission Community Arts Grants as recommended by the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission, if appropriate.

 

Project Description/History:

The Lawrence Arts Commission-Community Arts Grant program began in 1995 with the expressed purpose of providing grants funds intended as start-off money for projects or special community art related ventures with a particular focus on encouraging the arts within the Lawrence community.

 

Since the Community Arts Grant program inception, the Lawrence Arts Commission has provided grant funding totaling approximately $90,000 to over 140 organizations and artists.

 

Project Status/Details:

The Lawrence Arts Commission’s 18th Annual Community Arts Grant recommendations were selected based on the following three criteria: 1) community value, 2) project quality, 3) application quality.

 

The 2012 Community Arts Grant Awardees include the following:

 

         Project   Title                     Organization

Amount

1.  Four Winds Native Center – Indigenous Youth Dance Troupe  

$1,700

2. Lawrence Busker Festival

$2,000

3.  Douglas County Senior Services, Inc. – Douglas County Senior Services Oral History Quilt Project

$2,000

4.  Family Promise of Lawrence: Family Art Nights

$500

5. VanGo, Inc.: JAMS Summer Benchmark session

$1,000

Total:

$7,200

 

Project Funding: Funding for this program is through the Cultural Arts Commission budget within the Special Recreation Fund.  $7,200 is available for this program during this budget year.

 

Action Requested: The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission recommends that the City Commission authorizes the 2012 Community Arts Grant checks to the grant awardees as shown in the table above. Checks will be presented at the May 15, 2012 City Commission meeting.