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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-11-2021-CAC-ADDITIONAL HANDOUT-CA GRANTS SUMMARYReport of the Cultural Arts Grants Ad Hoc Subcommittee submitted to the City Arts Commission – February 11, 2021 The Cultural Arts Grants ad hoc subcommittee consists of Commissioners Wayan Kaufman and Leonard Simon. The City Arts Commission received nine grant applications. Two of the applications were from new applicants, and the other seven were from applicants who had received grants in previous years. We approached our review of the Grant Applications using the criteria defined in the following documents: 1. City Council Policy I-10, Financial Support for Culture and Arts 2. The Criteria defined on the Cultural Arts Grants Scoring Sheet The ad hoc subcommittee paid particular attention to the Fiscal Prudence of the applicants. I will now turn the presentation over to Commissioner Kaufman, who will briefly describe how each applicant’s request addresses Service to the Public and Artistic/Programmatic Excellence. [Commissioner Kaufman’s Summary] Thank you Commissioner Kaufman. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS: The following three applicants should not be funded: Applicant F-Kontrapunktus: The application is for a grant of $2,500, which funds 50% of the project costs. While the project has merit and intends to serve approximately 500 people in Newport Beach, we believe that this organization can self-fund this project. The organization had a surplus of $25,023 at the end of last fiscal year and projects an additional surplus of $43,293 this fiscal year ending with an accumulated surplus of $68,316. Applicant D-Chuck Jones Center for Creativity: The request is for a grant of $8,000 (the largest grant request received), which funds 46% of the project costs. This program is expected to serve 192 Newport Beach seniors. The reason we recommend not to fund the grant, because we feel that the organization is not fiscally prudent. The applicant’s operating budget indicates 37% of total fund income is goes to programs, while 63% of income is spent on Administration, Marketing, and Development. Applicant E-Inland Futures Foundation: The application is for $5,000 to fund 25% of a single TV production dealing with Newport Beach past and present. The episode will be aired on PBS affiliate KCVR whose primary area of coverage is the Inland Empire. The grant request is from an organization in the third priority group defined in City Council Policy I-10 Financial Support for Culture and Arts, and does not entirely fulfil the definition of offering programs to local residents. The ad hoc subcommittee recommends the remaining six grant requests be accepted and funded in full. Following is a brief synopsis of these requests along with some of the areas of fiscal prudence we evaluated: Operating Budget $ % % % Request Project Program A/M/D Notes . A-Arts & Learning Conservatory $2,500 50 81 19 B-Backhausdance $4,000 100 64 26 C-Baroque Music Festival-CdM $4,000 5 97 80 Most income to programs-operates at deficit G-Laguna Playhouse $5,000 19 108 Large deficit but all funds+ to programs H-Pacific Symphony $5,000 11 60 40 I-South Coast Repertory $5,000 1 74 26 TOTAL TO BE GRANTED: $25,500 The total grant requests are $40,500. The City Arts Commission Grants Budget is $30,000. If we grant $25,500 as recommended, the ad hoc subcommittee suggests allocating the remaining $4,500 from the grants budget to the City Arts Commission to spend on a Program to be determined and scheduled for later this fiscal year, and perhaps we might hear suggestions from the other Commissioners. Organization Request # of Newport Beach Residents Served Program Description A Arts & Learning Conservatory $2,500 55 Production and presentation of Ensign Middle School’s musical theatre virtual program. • A staple and builder of the school/community morale, serving students of varying cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. • Effective tool to address social-emotional learning. • Sessions will be held live virtually. Small breakout groups allow for specific theatrical skill development and instruction. • Multiple casts, allowing more students to shine, will learn music and foundational vocal instruction as well as acting and dance proficiency. B Backhausdance $4,000 275+ Dance Expressions: Creativity and Choreography, a new contemporary dance and movement workshop series for high school students. • To be held at two NMUSD schools – Corona del Mar Middle/High School (grades 8-10) and Back Bay Continuation High School (grades 11-12). • Dance and creative movement instruction are not currently included in K-12 core curricula. • The impacts of distance learning and social-emotional impacts associated with the pandemic were taken into consideration in development of this in-depth dance residency project. C Baroque Music Festival Corona del Mar $4,000 650 A prerecorded virtual presentation of A Bach Keyboard Extravaganza, featuring harpsichordist and organist Matthew Dirst. • The film will be viewable online on multiple platforms (free of charge) and in-person (ticketed) on June 24th during the Festival week. • Funds will also be used to subsidize $5 student tickets to proposed live concerts during the Festival week at Sherman Gardens and St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. • Recording of A Bach Keyboard Extravaganza will take place in May and will be a co- production with Ars Lyrica Houston. D Chuck Jones Center for Creativity $8,000 192 Food for Thought Adult Health Brain Program, a 4-week program held virtually in coordination with the Oasis Senior Center, for up to 30 residents per rotation. • Target segment of the population is Newport Beach residents 55 year of age and older. • Hands-on activities developed to exercise brain function. • Projects are process-driven and individual outcomes are celebrated. • Teaching artists all possess degrees relating to arts and/or education. E Inland Futures Foundation $5,000 5,800/month Filming on location in the city of Newport Beach for one episode of Season 2 of Uncovered in the Archives • Newport Beach residents will have access to programming through PBS-affiliate KCVR. • Storytelling will highlight Newport Beach history and sites. • Filming will take place in the city of Newport Beach. • Newport Beach residents will have access to programming through PBS-affiliate KCVR. • Seeking insight from the City of Newport Beach regarding identification of stories to feature. • F Kontrapunktus $2,000 5,000 Funds will be designated toward the spring production of a third virtual prerecorded concert, Opus Six: The Music of Handel, as well as the production of an additional virtual Masterclass course for middle school students. • Concert will take place at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic church in April, and then as a YouTube livestream event in June. • Classical performances are available for free viewing on YouTube, as well as offered to the City of Newport Beach for public viewing on the Library and Cultural Arts websites. • Spring masterclass course will be a continuation (intermediate) course in cello and intermediate violin. • Intend to offer masterclass series In the Baroque Style to NMUSD middle school students, through an asynchronous learning program. G Laguna Playhouse $5,000 650 The Theatre for a New Generation program will present The Outsiders, available for streaming for two weekends at the end of February and beginning of March. • A panel discussion on social equity with the cast and director will follow the initial streaming opportunity. • Target audience is teens and young adults 14-25. Strategic partnerships with community organizations that serve at-risk youth will be leveraged for outreach. • Newport Beach high schools will be engaged, with the goal of reaching 650 students. H Pacific Symphony $5,000 875 The Class Act music education program for elementary school students will be offered at Anderson and Newport Coast elementary schools for five months of the 2020-2021 school year. • 2021 theme will be Symphony at the Movies II – Myths and Legends • Curriculum is common core-based for K-12. • Program has been adapted for virtual learning with online and digital student activities and arts workshops with Symphony musicians. Youth Concerts and Bravo assemblies will take place online. I South Coast Repertory $5,000 700 Theatre for Young Audiences Program – Two family-friendly productions presented in different formats for 2021. • Free online classroom viewing of Red Riding Hood and a live outdoor production of You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (minimum 6 ticketed performances at Mission San Juan). • Outreach to Orange County school districts for will include Newport Beach schools. • Both productions strive to provide a meaningful introduction to theatrical arts for young children. • Goal of serving at least 700 Newport Beach students, teachers, and families, which is the number that was reached last year (2019-2020) through two in-person productions.