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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - COTA Agenda 01/09/2023AGENDA COMMISSION ON THE ARTS Council Chambers City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue Monday, January 9, 2023 1. Call to Order: 5:00 p.m. 2. Public Forum 3. Approval of the November 7, 2023 Minutes 4. Finalize Annual Grant Recommendations 5. Annual Grant Paragraph Assignments (current-year paragraphs attached for reference): a. Assignment of Paragraphs – Due January 16 b. Volunteers to Attend February 14 City Council Budget Wrap-Up Meeting (5:15 p.m.) 6. Upcoming Important Dates a. Paragraphs Due – January 16 b. Annual Grant Funding Recommendations Posted at City Hall – January 16 c. Fall 2022 Special Project Grant Final Reports Due – January 30 d. Next Meeting: February 6, 2023 7. Adjourn (by 5:30 p.m.) COTA 2022-23 Paragraphs ACTORS, INC. (Ames Community Theater) - $20,000 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 of 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) - $10,000 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 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) - $6,500 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) - $13,700 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 prov ide scholarships for singers in need. Ames Choral Society (ACS) - $4,000 The Ames Choral Society (ACS) provides 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 music 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. For the upcoming season, their 58 th, the ACS continues to benefit Ames by providing a community chorus open to all interested singers in the Ames and central Iowa area. Their performances provide musical opportunities for the community to enjoy throughout the year. Ames Chapter, Des Moines Metro Opera Guild (DMMOG) - $1,190 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 abo ut 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 enabling attendance at DMMO's Summer Festival – one of the oldest and most highly regarded summer opera festival in the United States. COTA support will help fund transport for opera-loving senior citizens of Ames who no longer can drive to the Summer Festival in Indianola. Younger Ames residents and students may also take advantage of the shuttle. Ames Community Arts Council (ACAC) - $13,000 The Ames Community Arts Council (ACAC) is an umbrella organization dedicated to celebrating the arts in Ames. ACAC serves local artists, arts and cultural organizatio ns and businesses, and all the citizens of Ames. The Arts Council is committed to encouraging 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 encourages any interested individual or group to join. Many ACAC activities are free of charge. COTA funding enables ACAC to promote cultural events, recognize excellence with the annual Arts Awards, and feature artists on the fall Studio Tour. ACAC offer small grants for local murals and for the Arts in Education program. ACAC also provides workshops, gatherings, and performances for artists and the community, and maintains a website and free periodical e - mail newsletter promoting arts events and programs. Central Iowa Symphony Association (CIS) - $13,800 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 depth to the arts in the Ames area giving Ames-based musicians the opportunity to perform with a large orchestra and offering opportunities for artistic collaboration of local members, soloists, and choral groups. Central Iowa Symphony is concerned with equitable access to the arts in Ames. They commit to this purpose through offering free admission for students and children, providing one complimentary ticket each season to adult learners through OLLI, a completely free concert in August for the Ames community, and providing 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 mus ic 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 compensation 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. DCCF 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 Aud itorium as a performance space for the Dancenter Dancer Showcase or any other incurred Showcase costs. Friends of Ames Strings (FOAS) - $4,800 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 through collaboration with area resources to provide exceptional programming at affordable rates, offering need-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. - $1,880 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 does require a membership fee to participate. COTA funds would be used, in part, to help lower or maintain the current membership fee. Funds would be primari ly used to perform two concerts within the year. This would include, but not limited to, obtaining music rights; performance space rental; marketing. KHOI FM - $7,600 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 over the air broadcasts, on the internet, and with live performances. The organization provides local and area residents access to local and national news, com munity 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 an upcoming concert. These events will help generate increased exposure and funds for KHOI. Kids Co ‘Motion - $3,500 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 - $30,500 Founded in 2006, the mission of the Story Theater Company (STC) is to increase the number of theatrical opportunities for the children of Ames and surrounding communities through performances and workshops, and to expose children to positive role models from the ISU theater department who teach the fundamentals of theater while encouraging self- confidence, responsibility and teamwork. To reach underserved children and elderly in the community, STC on Tour makes multiple visits a year to the Boys and Girls Club, nursing homes, and daycares. Similarly, to reach a broader audience, STC will distribute tickets to auditorium shows to local service organizations, such as Food at First, YSS, and ChildServe. COTA funds help support annual operational expenses, including rehearsal and performance space rentals, supplies, educational workshops, royalties and performance licenses. Ames Town and Gown Chamber Music Association - $18,500 Ames Town and Gown (ATG) Chamber Music Association is dedicated to presenting the finest solo musicians and small ensembles -- internationally renowned performers, as well as rising young stars -- to Ames citizens of all ages and demographics. In 2022-2023 Town and Gown will present its 73rd season, consisting of five concerts held in the Martha -Ellen Tye Recital Hall at Iowa State University and other venues such as First United Methodist Church in Ames. Similar to previous years, the organization will feature five world-class ensembles or individual artists, likely from various nations and from diverse U.S. backgrounds. ATG continues to seek innovative opportunities for outreach and collaboration within the Ames community, such as master classes in cooperation with the ISU music department, performances for students at local schools, or special “Ask the Artist” performances at the Ames Public Library. COTA funding assures programs of the highest breadth and quality by supporting artists’ fees, rental of concert halls, printing costs, publicity, etc. The Octagon Center for the Arts - $50,000 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 St reet 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 organization to reach over 32,000 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 - $4,500 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. COTA funding would be utilized for general expenses involved in bringing this show to the public, in cluding advertising, tech support, auditorium rental, and the like.