City reviews art group funds

Columbia’s Commission on Cultural Affairs met Monday to approve final recommendations for funding art projects in the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1.

Sixteen groups turned in requests for funding, totaling $127,180. Although the commission has increased its funding from last year by 2 percent, they were unable to meet the groups’ requests. The board plans to give out just under $76,000 this year to local groups and organizations.

“It’s a difficult process,” said Marie Hunter, manager of the Office of Cultural Affairs. “You have excellent applications, great programs, and they’re all doing great things in the community. You want to give them more money, but you just can’t.”

This money help support community art events such as Access Arts, Art in the Park, Hot Summer Nights Music Festival and the True/False film festival.

Before the commission made its final approval, members of requesting organizations in attendance were allowed to address the 12-member commission.

“I just wanted you all to know how much this helps and how thankful we are,” said Lisa Kemper, Executive Director of VSA arts of Missouri, an art organization geared towards helping those with disabilities.

The commission met earlier this summer to review the requests and to begin making their recommendations.

“It makes such a difference to them, no matter how large or small,” said Hunter.

The commission evaluates applications on artistic quality, educational quality, community outreach, administrative ability and additional revenue sources. After evaluating each application, the commission then decides how much they can give out to each organization, according to Hunter.

“It gets hard, but we have the tools in place and the commission has a good process to follow and they have confidence in it,” said Commission Chairperson Ken Greene.

Applications for funding were capped this year at $10,000 and nine organizations requested that amount. None of these organizations were recommended to receive that request.

Final recommendations will be approved in late September when the Columbia City Council approves the fiscal budget for 2006.

“The bottom line is, our work is done as a commission,” Hunter said. “We’ve done what we can. We’ve reviewed the applications and made our recommendations. It’s up to the City Council to make the final decisions.”