Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
CC:	Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager
Date:	March 4, 2009
RE:	Request to Submit National Endowment for the Arts Mayor’s Institute on City Design 25^th Anniversary Initiative Grant Application

Please place the following item on the March 9, 2010 City Commission consent agenda:

Authorize the Mayor to sign the grant proposal submission for the National Endowment for the Arts Mayor’s Institute on City Design, as recommended by the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission, and the Lawrence Arts Center, if appropriate. 

Background:

The Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission and the Lawrence Arts Center are recommending that the City of Lawrence authorize the submittal of a grant application for an NEA grant, the Mayor’s Institute on City Design.  There are only five cities in Kansas eligible to submit a proposal, and Lawrence is one of those of those cities.  A brief proposal is due March 15 and successful communities will be requested to submit a full proposal in early April in order to move to the next step in the process.

Proposal:

The Cultural Arts Commission and the Lawrence Arts Center are proposing to apply for a grant in the amount of $200,000 with an in-kind match of $190,000 and a cash match of $10,000.  The in-kind match will come from existing in-kind salary match and other in-kind service match from the City, the Lawrence Arts Center, Downtown Lawrence, and other entities.  The cash match is proposed from unspent carryover Outdoor Downtown Sculpture Funds from the 2009 deferred sculpture exhibition in the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission budget.  It is important to emphasize that no new resources are required to be identified for the matching funds. 

The proposed grant would fund an Arts Resource Officer to assist with the development of a Downtown Lawrence Arts District and work to unite existing cultural entities to plan monthly events, develop a marketing plan, oversee a juried commission of public artwork for the area, plan a conference focusing on arts and place-making for city leaders in surrounding Midwestern municipalities, and pursue long-term funding to sustain and expand the initial activities.  The position would be a one-year position unless new resources were identified to sustain it.  The position would have an office at the Lawrence Arts Center.  Close collaboration with the Lawrence Arts Center, the Cultural Arts Commission, and other entities will be required to implement the grant.

The Cultural Arts Commission voted to make this request at its February 10, 2010 and March 3, 2010 meetings.  Additionally, the Lawrence Arts Center is recommending this submittal and has provided the attached letter of support.

Recommended Action:

Authorize the Mayor to sign the grant proposal submission for the National Endowment for the Arts Mayor’s Institute on City Design, recommended by the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission, and the Lawrence Arts Center, if appropriate.