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 �