City council to consider arts and culture grant program expansion

City Council considers expanding arts and culture grant program

The Aspen City Council will consider expanding the arts and culture grants program at a Tuesday afternoon work session.

The committee will not be meeting today to celebrate the Independence Day holiday. Discussions on Tuesday will focus on the grant program and whether to use additional real estate transfer taxes to fund it.

In November Aspen voters approved amendments to the city’s municipal bylaws allowing RETT funds to continue funding projects at the Wheeler Opera House and the Red Brick Arts Center and removing the $100,000 cap on arts and culture grants. The measure passed with 71% Aspen Voter Support.

According to a memo from Wheeler Opera House executive director Lisa Rigsby Peterson the passage of Measure 2A coincides with an increase in RETT collections associated with the growth of the Aspen real estate market. In 2021 RETT has raised a total of $108,488,886 and by May 2022 the total will reach $4,909,547 - a 37% increase from the same period in 2021.

With the passage of 2A Red Brick will now receive an estimated $250,000 per year in operating expenses and capital project support up from about $30,000 per year it previously received from RETT funds. Wheeler Staff and Grants Steering Committee Proposes Expanded Grants Program along with two new arts funding divisions—Aspen Artists Scholarship Division and Asset and Acquisition Aid Support—to best utilize the additional RETT funding Peterson wrote in the memo.

"The proposal seeks to allocate additional resources available through RETT collections on different economic terms based on the grant's overall program philosophy and strategic focus areas and play a role in fiscal responsibility and sustainability," she wrote. "While collections have grown in recent years it is important to implement programs that can be sustained during times when RETT's collections are less robust and retain the ability to support specific primary uses of RETT funding the Red Brick Arts Center and Wheeler Opera House. In addition to expanded grant funding. "

The two new grant sectors will be pilot projects she added. If approved by the city council they will be assessed and reassessed before the 2024 funding cycle. Peterson proposes $800,000 to $1.2 million in funding for arts and culture funding programs in 2023 and $40,000 to $40,000 to Aspen Artist Fellowship $60,000 Assets and Acquisitions $500,000 to $1 million.

An increase in the funding pool for arts and culture programs will encourage eligible organizations to submit more impactful applications the most effective way to support the arts and culture community writes Peterson but in years with less funding volunteer review Committee may recommend All available funds are not allocated as committee members will give priority to applications of the highest level.

"A robust arts and culture grant program is an important tool in achieving the Council's stated goal of promoting the cultural vitality of the Aspen community," Peterson wrote. "Through this historic success it is critical to continue to support arts and cultural organizations The program allows grantees to apply for organizational or program support in areas that are most important to the applicant organization. "

She added that the creation of the fellowship programme will support the creative dynamism of individuals and organisations which will enhance the work of individuals and stimulate creative community dialogue around pressing issues. Assets and acquisitions department will help local arts and culture The nonprofit encourages innovation by supporting the purchase of new equipment and materials while keeping the facility running efficiently.

Peterson will ask the council to provide guidance on whether the proposals are in line with the council’s vision for using RETT funds what each department’s annual budget should be and whether they would like to see different types of arts and cultural support that haven’t been received. mentioned.

A working session will be held at 4pm. In the council chamber at Aspen City Hall on Tuesday. The meeting will be open to the public to observe in person or on Zoom. Links to the agenda and Zoom meeting can be found at cityofaspen com