Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-02-23 09-095 ORDERCOUNCIL ACTION Item No_ M9 0.95 Date: February 23, 2009 Item/Subject: ORDER, Approving Grant Request from the American Folk Festival for Partial Funding of the 2009 American Folk Festival, August 28-30, 2009 Responsible Department: Community and Economic Development Commentary: Chapter 23, Article III requires the Commission on Cultural Development to review grant applications from arts and cultural organizations and recommend a course of action to the City Council for its review and consideration. The Commission received a grant request from the Bangor Folk Festival for $75,000 in partial support of the 2009 festival. Total anticipated operating expenses for 2009 will be $1,084,412 compared to $1,064,414 in 2008. The request is for cash funding of $75,000, and it is presumed that the City will maintain the level of in-kind support that it provided AFF in 2008. The Commission noted in its review process that the project met all funding criteria and that the application was complete. The Commission further noted that the benefits of the festival are recognized by the community and that AFF has established a reputation that reaches far outside Bangor. Commission members agreed that Cultural outreach has more importance than ever and that sponsorships will be much more difficult to acquire in these economic times. As a result, the Commission voted to recommend that the City Council approve a grant in the increased amount of $85,000. Manager's Comments: B+ E, -D .0 Associated Information: Budget Approval: Legal Approval: Introduced for X Passage First Reading Referral Department Head 10,11V &'(1, W�,O% A - City Manager Page _ of _ finance Director City Solicitor 09 095 Assigned to Councilor Stone February 23, 2009 CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) ORDER, Approving Grant Request from the American Folk Festival for partial funding of the 2009 American Folk Festival, August 28-30, 2009 WHEREAS, the Commission on Cultural Development's mission is to promote the development of Bangor as a regional arts center that nurtures the artistic and cultural expression of its diverse peoples; and WHEREAS, the Commission is authorized to review grant applications from arts and cultural organizations and recommend a course of action to the City Council for its review and consideration; and WHEREAS, the Bangor Folk Festival submitted an application for $75,000 in partial support of a $1,084,412 production of the 2009 American Folk Festival; and WHEREAS, the Commission noted in its review that the project met all funding criteria and the application was complete; and WHEREAS, the Commission noted that the benefits of the American Folk Festival to the community were demonstrated in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and by its predecessor, the National Folk Festival, in 2002, 2003, and 2004; and WHEREAS, the American Folk Festival is seeking, from other sources, funding that would more than match its request from the City; and WHEREAS, the Commission encourages surrounding communities to participate financially in the production of the Festival, which attracts over 150,000 attendees; and WHEREAS, the Commission members agreed that in today's economy, Cultural outreach has more importance than ever and sponsorships will be much more difficult to acquire; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR THAT A grant in the amount of $85,000 is hereby approved to the Bangor Folk Festival for the 2009 American Folk Festival. IN CITY COUNCIL February 23, 2009 Motin Made and Seconded for Passage Motion Doubted John Rohman, Chair of the Cultural Commission, urged Council Support Motion Made and Seconded to amend to reduce amount to $75,000 Vote: 4-5 Councilors Voting Yes: Blanchette, Bronson, D'Errico and Wheeler Councilors Voting No: Gratwick, Hawes, Nealley, Palmer, Stone Motion -Failed Vote 9-0 Councilors Voting Yes: Blanchette, Bronson, D'Errico, Gratwick, Hawes, Nealley, Palmer, Stone and Wheeler Councilor Voting No: None PasAd `"CITY CLERK (TITLEJ Allures nming_Grant Request from the American Folk Festival for Partial Funding nf the 2009 American Folic Festival, August 28-30, 2009 Assigned to Councilor 5W I �