Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into contract with the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) for the purpose of distributing 2023 Admissions Tax proceeds to provide funding for grants to artists and arts organizations that serve as the foundation for the city’s profile as a vibrant, inclusive city. These proceeds will be distributed from the Creation, Innovation and Inclusion Fund, which was established pursuant to Ord. 3378-2018.
The Creation, Innovation and Inclusion fund greatly increases the number of grants available to artists, events and nonprofits, thus enabling them to explore their creativity. Funds will be used by the Greater Columbus Arts Council to distribute grants to artists, and nonprofits contributing to the city’s creative culture and opening the doors of arts and culture for all residents. Funds will also be utilized to empower emerging artists and to further advance arts education within Columbus neighborhoods through programming at arts organizations. These funds will be disbursed through existing Greater Columbus Arts Council grant programs, including the following areas: operating support, project support, individual artist grants, and artist fellowships. Furthermore, these funds will provide support and resources through an international artist exchange, residency programs and workshops as well as any new programs designed for arts non-profits led by and primarily serving people of color.
As previously stated, City Council has established the Creation, Innovation and Inclusion fund pursuant to Ord 3378-2018. This fund will be supported by an Admissions Tax on entrance to events within the city. It is estimated that this tax will generate $7,445,000.00 per current year in resources. It should be noted that beginning in 2020, the Greater Columbus Arts Council will fund the operations of the Greater Columbus Film Commission and Columbus Music Commission from proceeds it receives from the Creation, Innovation and Inclusion fund.
Greater Columbus Arts Council invests in cultural arts and sports venues to provide cultural experiences for the City of Columbus. The services provided cannot be provided by existing city employees because these services are beyond the City’s current staffing capacity to provide.
Emergency action is requested so that 2023 Admissions Tax proceeds can be disbursed without delay to ensure timely payments to the GCAC to provide funding for the grants.
Fiscal Impact: This legislation authorizes the Director of Finance and Management to enter into contract with the Greater Columbus Arts Council for the purpose of distributing the 2023 Admissions Tax proceeds from the Creation, Innovation and Inclusion Fund to empower emerging artists and to further advance arts education within Columbus neighborhoods. The Greater Columbus Arts Council will receive revenue from admission taxes generated from events held at venues other than Nationwide Arena, estimated at an annual amount of $7,445,000.00.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Finance and Management to enter into contract with the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Inc. for the purpose of distributing 2023 Admissions Tax proceeds to provide funding for grants to artists and arts organizations that serve as the foundation for the city’s profile as a vibrant, inclusive city; to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of proceeds from the Creation, Innovation and Inclusion Fund anticipated to be $7,445,000.00; and to declare an emergency. ($7,445,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Ordinance 3378-2018 was passed on December 13, 2018, enacting Chapter 375 of the Columbus City Codes; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance 3378-2018 authorized the creation of the Creation, Innovation and Inclusion Fund; and
WHEREAS, the GCAC will provide funding to non-profit arts and cultural organizations and individual artists through operating support, general support, project support, Thrive, and support for professional artist grants and provide support and resources through International Artist Exchange, artist fellowships, residencies and workshops;
WHEREAS, the creation of this fund represents a commitment to the creative economy by dedicating significant funding for grants to artists, events and nonprofits enabling them to explore their creativity; and
WHEREAS, the revenue generated by the creation of this fund will further advance arts education and accessibility within our neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Finance and Management in that it has become necessary to authorize the Finance and Management Director to enter into contract with the Greater Columbus Arts Council for the purpose of distributing the 2023 Admissions Tax proceeds so that they can be disbursed without delay to ensure timely payments to provide funding for the grants, thereby preserving the 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 Finance and Management is hereby authorized to enter into a contract with the Greater Columbus Arts Council for the purpose of distributing 2023 Admissions Tax proceeds from the Creation, Innovation and Inclusion Fund for the purpose of empowering emerging artists and to further advance arts education within Columbus neighborhoods.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2023, the sum of $7,445,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated in the Creation, Innovation and Inclusion fund 2255, Sub-Fund 222501 in Object Class 03, per the account codes in the attachment to this ordinance. This figure constitutes an estimation and amounts collected will be distributed pursuant to Section 375.03 of the Columbus City Code. It should be noted that the City will assess a 0.5% administrative fee from gross receipts.
See Attached File: Ord. 0634-2023 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 3. That the expenditure of $7,445,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary in regard to the action authorized in Section 1, is hereby authorized to be expended from the Creation, Innovation and Inclusion Fund 2255, Sub-Fund 225501 in Object Class 03 Contractual Services per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
See Attached File: Ord 0634-2023 Legislation Template.xls
SECTION 4. That this contract is awarded in accordance with Section 375.03 of the Columbus City Code.
SECTION 5. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 6. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 7. That for reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby 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 nor vetoes the same.