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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - COTA Agenda 01/08/2024AGENDA COMMISSION ON THE ARTS Council Chambers City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue Monday, January 8, 2024 1. Call to Order: 5:00 p.m. 2. Public Forum 3. Approval of the November 6, 2023 Minutes 4. Finalize Annual Grant Recommendations 5. Annual Grant Paragraph Assignments (current-year paragraphs attached for reference): a. Assignment of Paragraphs – Due January 15 b. Volunteers to Attend February 13 City Council Budget Wrap-Up Meeting (5:15 p.m.) 6. Upcoming Important Dates a. Paragraphs Due – January 15 b. Annual Grant Funding Recommendations Posted at City Hall – January 15 c. Fall 2023 Special Project Grant Final Reports Due – January 29 d. Next Meeting: February 5, 2024 7. Adjourn (by 5:30 p.m.) COTA 2023-24 Paragraphs ACTORS, INC. (Ames Community Theater) - $18,800 The Ames Community Theater (ACTORS) produces up to five main stage shows each year that appeal to all aspects of the community. ACTORS invites community members to participate in live theater as performers, technicians, musicians, artists, and/or audience members. All positions at ACTORS are staffed with volunteers. Additionally, the cast and crews are not charged a participation fee. The income produced by each show is applied to the cost of staging the production including a prorated portion of the overhead o f the building. COTA funding is used to supplement the actual cost of staging ACTORS’ five main stage productions each season. Ames International Orchestra Festival Association, Inc. (AIOFA) - $9,500 The purpose of AIOFA is to inform, educate, and foster awareness among audiences of the value of classical music. This is achieved by providing financial support for and promoting live performances of an outstanding orchestra as part of the Performing Arts Series at Stephens Auditorium. The goal is to reach audiences of all ages, enhance concert attendance, and increase awareness of the value of classical music performances. COTA funding is used to underwrite artists’ fees, outreach activities, and special discounts targeted at youth, students, and those who might never have attended a classical music concert. Ames Chamber Artists (ACA) - $6,000 The Ames Chamber Artists (ACA) is an auditioned choir for men and women in central Iowa, organized to provide excellent choral performance of many styles of music to varied audiences in Ames and the surrounding area. ACA performs at least two concerts per season and often collaborates with other musicians to expand the types of music performed, as well as the number of performances offered to the community. It has long been a purpose of ACA to promote lifelong choral singing to young people, so ACA seeks opportunities to perform with school choirs and children's choirs. Ames Children’s Choirs Association, Inc. (ACC) - $14,786 The Ames Children’s Choirs (ACC) has remained dedicated to promoting musical excellence and joyful singing experiences among the youth of Central Iowa, in addition to providing the Ames community with quality musical performances and opportunities. Since Spring 2020, ACC has achieved these goals by adapting rehearsals to include online and face-to-face platforms, collaborating with other ensembles virtually, and offering performances both in person and virtually. COTA funds help achieve these goals, keep tuition low, and provide scholarships for singers in need. Ames Choral Society (ACS) - $3,900 The Ames Choral Society (ACS) provides all interested Ames residents with an opportunity to sing with a community chorus. ACS performances include diverse, high-quality secular and sacred choral works. Members are high school age and older. COTA funding allows the ACS to purchase or rent music, and to hire additional instrumentalists and solo vocalists. The funds also help ACS keep dues affordable and assist with the costs for publicity and for a web presence. The upcoming season continues a nearly 60-year history of benefiting Ames by providing a community chorus open to all interested singers in the Ames and central Iowa area. Their performances provide a variety of musical opportunities for the community (singers and audiences) to enjoy throughout the year. Ames Chapter, Des Moines Metro Opera Guild (DMMOG) - $1,474 The Ames Chapter of the Des Moines Metro Opera Guild has actively contributed to the arts in Ames for decades. Its activities include providing educational programs about opera, hosting opera events, presenting an annual award to an outstanding graduating ISU Opera Studio student, and fundraising in support of DMMO by public opera performances in Ames. An important goal is enabling attendance at DMMO's Summer Festival – one of the oldest and most highly regarded summer opera festivals in the United States. COTA support will help fund transport for opera-loving Ames residents to the Summer Festival in Indianola. This will in particular enable senior citizens to take advantage of safe transportation to the Festival and enable their continued enjoyment and support of the arts. Other Ames residents, including young opera fans and students may also take advantage of the shuttle. Ames Community Arts Council (ACAC) - $12,300 The Ames Community Arts Council (ACAC) is an umbrella organization dedicated to celebrating the arts in Ames. ACAC serves local artists, arts and cultural organizations and businesses, and all the citizens of Ames. The Arts Council encourages participation in the arts at every level, building and maintaining a strong sense of community, and helping artists succeed. ACAC is a member-based organization and membership is open to all. Many ACAC activities are free of charge. COTA funding enables ACAC to promot e cultural events, recognize excellence with the annual Arts Awards, and feature artists on the fall Studio Tour. ACAC offers small grants for local murals and for the Arts in Education program. ACAC provides workshops, gatherings, and performances for artists and the community, and maintains a website, social media presence, and free periodical e -mail newsletter promoting arts events and programs. Central Iowa Symphony Association (CIS) - $13,500 The Central Iowa Symphony is a community orchestra whose collective goal is to foster quality performances, offer satisfying musical experiences, and nurture educational and cultural growth in central Iowa. Having a full symphony performing in Ames adds de pth to the arts in central Iowa, gives Ames-based musicians the opportunity to perform with a large orchestra, and offers opportunities for artistic collaboration of local members, soloists, and choral groups. Central Iowa Symphony is committed to equitable access to the arts in Ames, making their performances readily available to all. To that end, the Symphony offers free admission for students and children, provides one complimentary ticket each season to adult learners through OLLI, presents a completely free concert in August for the Ames community, and provides complimentary tickets to parents of private music students to expand their experience of orchestral music and grow arts engagement. They seek to serve lovers of orchestral music and those who are unfamiliar with orchestral music through integration of wide-ranging music styles. COTA support will contribute to this mission through financial support for the organization’s yearly expenses including marketing, facility rental fees, music and equipment rental fees, and honoraria for guest artists. Dancenter Dance Company Foundation - $3,000 The Dancenter Dance Company Foundation (DDCF) is dedicated to providing volunteer and financial support for the education, development, and advancement of Ames area dancers while enriching our community through the art of dance. DDCF hosts The Dancenter Dancer Showcase annually as an opportunity for citizens of Ames to attend a premier dance performance free of charge. DDCF is committed to eliminating attendance barriers that sometimes exist with access to the fine arts due to admission costs. Additionally, the performance benefits and supports aspiring Ames dancers by giving them an opportunity to perform and share their talents with the community. The Showcase also provides opportunities for individuals that support the arts to collaborate through voluntary involvement in the production and creation of a unique local performance. COTA support will be used to pay for the rental of Ames City Auditorium as a performance space for the Dancenter Dancer Showcase or any other incurred Showcase costs. Friends of Ames Strings (FOAS) - $4,400 Friends of Ames Strings (FOAS) is an organization with a primary mission to facilitate education and performance opportunities for youth musicians including summer and winter workshops. FOAS is committed to furthering the arts in Ames through participatory opportunities including offering high school and college musicians jobs as coaches in their programs and offering free community concerts in Ames facilities for Ames community members. FOAS offers a Summer Strings Workshop that provides individual, small group, large ensemble, and performance experiences for participants and leadership development for coaches and volunteers. The FOAS Winter Workshop is focused on a free community performance and provides an opportunity for interested youth to perform in public in their community with private instruction and support from a FOAS coach. FOAS is concerned with equitable access to the arts. This is obtained with collaboration with area resources to provide exceptional programming at affordable rates, offering ne ed-based scholarships, and providing financial support for instrument refurbishment. COTA support will assist with education and performance opportunities through financial support for the organization’s yearly expenses. Good Company: A Women’s Choral Ensemble, Inc. - $2,200 Good Company (GC), a women’s choral ensemble, began in 1993 as a way to foster choral music written for treble voices of all adult ages. GC singers perform music in numerous languages and focus on music written by female composers. GC reaches out to all segments of the Ames community and the surrounding areas through participation and performance. GC requires a membership fee to participate and COTA funds would be used, in part, to help lower or maintain the current membership fee. Funds would be primarily used to perform two concerts within the year. This would include, but not limited to, obtaining music rights; performance space rental; marketing. India Cultural Association of Central Iowa - $9,700 India Cultural Association (ICA) of Central Iowa, located in Ames, was formed in 1992 as a non-profit organization. ICA aims to assist and promote educational, youth, literary, charitable, and cultural activities with the intent to maintain, preserve, and foster the cultural and secular heritage of India. ICA also works to enhance friendship and understanding with people from various cultural backgrounds. Each year ICA sponsors several cultural events to promote a better understanding of Indian art, music, and culture among the people of Ames and Central Iowa. The organization is focused on extending its offerings of cultural and community events to communities outside of the ICA membership base as well. ICA offers memberships at various levels to gather funds. COTA grant funds will be used to assist in funding our various events through the year. These events include, but are not limited to, a cultural fair, theater or musical performance, or a charity run. KHOI FM - $7,400 KHOI is an Ames-based noncommercial volunteer-driven community radio station. The mission of the station is to build community and promote creativity and arts in central Iowa through on-air broadcasts, on the internet, and with live performances. The organization provides local and area residents access to local and national news, community events, musical and verbal arts, and opportunities to learn and participate in radio programming and production, as well as volunteer coordination and radio station management. KHOI plans to utilize a new performance space in 622 Douglas by using COTA funds to help pay for musicians and upcoming concerts. These events will help generate increased exposure and funds for KHOI. Kids Co ‘Motion - $3,000 Kids Co ‘Motion, founded in 1989, offers workshops and performances to introduce and train children ages 8-18 in the Ames area in the art of creating and producing dances, specifically modern dance. KCM works with all levels of experience and develops future leaders. In addition to acquiring dance skills, participants learn discipline of collaboration. COTA support helps by funding the ability to bring in outside instructors and securing rehearsal and performance spaces to showcase the talent. Story Theater Company - $31,940 Story Theater Company’s mission is to offer quality theatrical opportunities for area children and provide them with positive role models who teach the fundamentals of theater in a welcoming environment that encourages self-confidence, responsibility, teamwork, and inclusion of all. COTA grant funding helps to keep registration fees low, making it possible for families and children to engage with theatrical art opportunities in the Ames community. COTA funds support annual operational expenses (including rehearsal and performance space rentals), supplies, utilities, insurance, and other associated organizational expenses. The Buxton Initiative - $8,000 The Buxton Initiative is driven by a purpose to provide programs and community events in celebration of African American artists’ cultural contributions. This is the first year that The Buxton Initiative will operate as a nonprofit with a focus on providing resources and creating awareness of creative opportunities and knowledge to primarily African American communities. COTA grant funds will support project costs associated with their ongoing Ames community project Black’d Out Books, support for artists pa rticipating in the artist's talk series More Than Monoliths, and costs associated with the development of new programs, workshops, and events for Ames and the surrounding community. Ames Town and Gown Chamber Music Association - $17,550 Ames Town and Gown Chamber Music Association is dedicated to presenting the finest solo musicians and small ensembles for the community, so that Ames citizens of all ages and demographics may enjoy outstanding, inspiring musical experiences. To increase access to these experiences, they offer free admission for students of all ages. They also bring the artists to the community through outreach events held at public libraries, schools, Iowa State University, and other locations. COTA grant funds will be used for artists' fees, concert hall rental, printing costs, publicity, and the many other components necessary to ensure that they can maintain programs of the highest quality and breadth. The Octagon Center for the Arts - $48,600 The Octagon Center for the Arts (Octagon) is a non-profit community arts organization that has offered art exhibits and quality educational programs for children and adults since 1966. The Octagon also holds special events and has a retail art shop promoting local artisans. The Octagon partners with the Main Street District, Ames Community Arts Council, local schools, Mainstream Living, ISU, YSS, United Way, the Ames Public Library and the Boys and Girls Club of Story County. COTA funds enable the organizat ion to reach over 12,000 people a year in some form of art experience and expression, by providing annual operational support for workshops, supplies, marketing, shop artists, etc. Senior Variety Show - $4,900 The Senior Variety Show is a senior-driven opportunity for entertainment and involvement that encourages, connects, and acclaims our city as a place where successful aging takes place through the performing arts. Along with encouraging senior talents in the performing arts, The Senior Variety Show inspires the community with the joy of aging through an uplifting and enjoyable evening and afternoon of entertainment. Through the years, this show has raised over $210,000 for senior projects in the community. C OTA funding would be utilized for general expenses involved in bringing this show to the public, including advertising, tech support, auditorium rental, and related expenses.