Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation seeks authorization from Columbus City Council for the Director of the Development Department to apply for and accept grant funds from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) on behalf of the Columbus Art Commission (CAC). Seated July 2007, the CAC is a new commission that is staffed by the Development Department, Planning Division. Per Columbus Code Chapter 3115, the CAC's duties include the examination, at least every two years, of all city monuments and works of art and to make a report with recommendations for the future care and maintenance thereof.
The CAC has no budget with which to carry out its duties. Further, the City has no inventory of its memorials and art works, nor has it undertaken any systematic review or evaluation of the condition of its art collection. This summer, with volunteer assistance, these assets will be inventoried. The main purpose for the NEA grant application is for funding to retain an art conservator to evaluate the physical condition of the City's art collection, an activity that requires professional expertise and that may need to occur in phases. In addition, because the CAC is a new commission, a portion of the funds will be used for public art education and advocacy. The grant request will not exceed $150,000.
It is requested that this legislation be declared an emergency so that the grant application can be submitted by its August 11, 2008 deadline.
FISCAL IMPACT: No funding is required for this legislation.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to apply for and accept federal grant funds from the National Endowment for the Arts; and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, the Columbus Art Commission (CAC) was seated July 2007 through Mayoral appointment and Council authorization; and
WHEREAS, per Columbus Code Chapter 3115, the CAC has the duty to examine, at least once every two years, the City's monuments and works of art and make a report on the conditions thereof with recommendations for future care and maintenance; and
WHEREAS, The CAC has no budget with which to carry it out its duties; and
WHEREAS, this summer the Planning Division will coordinate the City's first inventory of its memorials and works of art with the assistance of undergraduate students from The Ohio State University, College of Art and the Neighborhood Design Center; and
WHEREAS, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) via its Access to Artistic Excellence grant program offers funding opportunities in activities that impact, "...the artistic and/or cultural heritage of the nation, region, or field," and for projects with the potential to, "Â…broaden access to, expand and diversify the audiences for, or strengthen communities through the arts;"; and
WHEREAS, these grant funds are being sought to retain an arts conservator to evaluate the condition of the city's monuments and works of art, and to further preserve and enrich the City's artistic an cultural heritage through public art education and advocacy; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the City of Columbus in that emergency action is necessary so that the grant application can be submitted by its August 11, 2008 deadline, all for the preservation of public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of the Department of Development, or his designee, is hereby authorized to submit a grant application to the National Endowment for the Arts and to accept these grant funds if awarded to the City of Columbus.
Section 2. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part thereof , this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves or vetoes the same.