HomeMy WebLinkAboutA017 - Resolution approving Commission on the Arts (COTA) Summer 2026 Special Project Grant contractsITEM #:19
DATE:03-24-26
DEPT:ADMIN
SUBJECT:SUMMER 2026 COMMISSION ON THE ARTS SPECIAL PROJECT GRANT
CONTRACTS
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
The Commission on the Arts (COTA) offers an Annual Grant program, which supports annual
operating expenses for arts organizations, and two rounds (fall and spring) of Special Project
Grants, which are smaller awards for unique or unforeseen opportunities. Following the award
of the Spring 2026 Special Project Grants, a $6,590.50 balance of unawarded funding
remained in COTA's budget. Rather than allow this funding to return to the Local Option Sales
Tax Fund balance, COTA elected to initiate a special third round of Special Project Grants.
The maximum award amount was increased to $2,500, and the projects were to be completed
between April 1 and October 31, 2026.
On March 2, 2026, COTA finalized its recommendations for Summer 2026 Special Project
Grants. Seven grant requests were received totaling $11,450. COTA has $6,579.50 in funding
available for Summer 2026 Special Project grants. The requests and COTA's
recommendations are described in the table below:
ORGANIZATION REQUEST PROJECT RECOMMENDATION
Ames Community Arts
Council $2,500 Empty Bowls 2026 Bowl Making
Workshops $760
Friends of Ames
Strings $2,500 Youth Education and
Performance Opportunities $1,950
ACTORS $1,500 "Come From Away" Set
Expenses $1,060
KHOI FM $700 Documentary Film Series $700
KHOI FM $1,500 "Map of My Kingdom"
Production $875
Ames Town & Gown $750 Twelfth Night Early Music
Ensemble Outreach $570
Octagon Center for the
Arts $2,000 Ames Documentary Film
Festival $648
TOTAL $11,450 $6,563
Copies of the contracts were sent to the awarded organizations for approval. On March 12,
staff received a notification from Friends of Ames Strings that it had received the
contract but would be declining the funding due to a change in programming plans. The
notification was received too late for COTA to alter its recommendations prior to the
start of the grant period. If the City Council desires, it could redistribute this $1,950 to
the remaining projects. Staff has prepared an alternative recommendation to
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accomplish this, which is reflected in the table below:
ORGANIZATION PROJECT REQUEST COTA
REC.CHANGE STAFF
REC.
Ames Community
Arts Council
Empty Bowls 2026 Bowl
Making Workshops $2,500 $760 $444 $1,204
Friends of Ames
Strings
Youth Education and
Performance Opportunities $2,500 $1,950 ($1,950)$0
ACTORS "Come From Away" Set
Expenses $1,500 $1,060 $440 $1,500
KHOI FM Documentary Film Series $700 $700 -$700
KHOI FM "Map of My Kingdom"
Production $1,500 $875 $443 $1,318
Ames Town & Gown Twelfth Night Early Music
Ensemble Outreach $750 $570 $180 $750
Octagon Center for
the Arts
Ames Documentary Film
Festival $2,000 $648 $443 $1,091
TOTAL $11,450 $6,563 $0 $6,563
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the Summer 2026 COTA Special Project Grant contracts as recommended by
staff in the amount of $6,563.
2. Approve the Summer 2026 COTA Special Project Grant contracts as recommended by
COTA in the amount of $4,613.
3. Refer the contracts to COTA for further information.
4. Do not approve the contracts.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Special project grants help advance participation in and awareness of the arts in the
Ames community, which is a key goal of the Commission on the Arts. COTA has
reviewed the requests and has recommended the approval of the contracts now
presented to the City Council. One of the grant recipients declined the awarded funds.
Assuming COTA and the City Council would like to award all of the grant funds, City
staff has therefore prepared an alternative recommendation to disburse those unused
funds across the remaining requestors. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City
Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as noted above.
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