Explanation
This ordinance authorizes the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Maroon Arts Group to sponsor the PitchBlack event series.
PitchBlack is a micro-granting gathering space designed to support and celebrate creative projects that impact the local communities in Columbus. The events are built on the principle of Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) and accomplish this cooperation in the democratic process of funding local creativity through crowd-funded micro-grants that impact the community in radically creative ways.
Attendees pay a $10 ticket to attend an event and hear pitches from a small number of community members who are leading projects in the arts, urban agriculture, social justice, education, technology, and other areas. After hearing the pitches, attendees vote on the project they feel will have the most community impact. The winner receives a large grant, funded by event sponsors and crowd-funded by the ticket sales. Runner-ups also receive smaller grants.
Funding for the PitchBlack Columbus event series may be used to supplement grants to these entrepreneurs and thought leaders, or for professional services, venue rental, or personnel support.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Jobs Growth subfund.
Emergency Designation: Emergency action is necessary as the PitchBlack event series has already begun and funding support is needed in a timely manner to allow for the administration of micro-grants to pitch competition winners.
Title
To authorize the City Clerk to enter into a grant agreement with the Maroon Arts Group to sponsor the PitchBlack Columbus event series; and to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Jobs Growth subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($45,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, PitchBlack Columbus is a micro-granting gathering designed to support and celebrate creative projects that impact the local communities in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, crowd-funded micro grants bring the community toget...
Click here for full text