Meeting Agenda: Duncanville Arts Commission Joint Meeting with the Duncanville City Council

D.L. Hopkins Jr. Senior Center, 206 James Collins Blvd., Duncanville, TX 75116

Tuesday, June 25, 2024, 6:00 PM
Tuesday, April 23, 2024, 6:00 PM
Tuesday, January 23, 2024, 6:00 PM

Source: City of Duncanville

Item 1. Call to Order.

Welcome and special thanks.

Item 2. Receive public comments.

Please participate. But exercise brevity by limiting your comments to two (2) minutes.

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At the end of this meeting, we’re going to recommend consideration of:

  • A line item for the ARTS within City/DCEDC budgets to evaluate current arts funding models and strategies;

    • Arts Commission has the final say on arts grants, sponsorships, and programming

  • A line item for CULTURAL DISTRICT and to seed $1MM from the DCEDC HOT fund balance to a CULTURAL DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT FUND to be disseminated through grants and contracts for arts programming, capital development, and capacity building within the proposed cultural district;

    • Arts Commission has the final say on arts grants, sponsorships, and programming

  • Recognize and support a nonprofit community-driven CULTURAL DISTRICT FOUNDATION

    • priority eligibility to contract with the City and DCEDC;

    • free use of City-owned space and City-owned/managed technology to conduct education, outreach, and fundraising activity

  • Recognition of October as National Arts and Humanities Month, through a proclamation;

  • Contract with Texas Guitar Society up to $49K for turnkey arts programs development, deployment, and management,  through the end of the current fiscal year to be completed in the next.

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Arts Commission Duties & Powers

  • The Commission shall solicit applications for arts events, review and hear requests for funding, schedule interviews, and adopt guidelines and criteria for applicants requesting funding. The Commission will advise the City Council on the expenditure of the hotel/motel tax allocation for the arts. The Arts Commission Chairman, or an alternate representative as designated by the chairman, shall attend all City Council workshops and meetings at which Arts Commission issues are discussed or considered.

  • The Commission may also seek and administer funding by state, federal, and private grants, gifts, and admission fees as provided herein. They may also decline acceptance of any state, federal, private grant, donation or gift which is subject to terms or conditions which are not acceptable to or performable by the Commission.

  • The Commission may itself produce and promote a cultural/arts event or projects in addition to and apart from its role as a funding source for Arts Commissions Grants to other groups and individuals. Events or projects may also include a public permanent art component.

Source: City of Duncanville

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Challenges having never had an Arts Commission

  • When the Arts Commission was first created, it was done so with a mission statement and certain powers and duties. But, there were no mechanisms in which to operate within the structure of City Hall.

    • “side hustle”

  • Arts funding is derived from multiple disparate sources tied to the knowledge bank of individual City staff members.

  • Decisions for funding to the arts is siloed outside the purview of the Arts Commission.

  • HOT fund distribution to the Arts outside the purview of the Arts Commission is a fragmented and inequitable (reimbursement vs. grant) approach making it difficult to maximize resources, hinders strategic arts development, and lacks transparency.

  • Commission and staff are at capacity bandwidth

  • Difficult to access to information about arts-related funding

  • Limited pathways to respond to community enthusiasm

Item 3. Briefing on proposed Cultural District.

Duncanville Arts Commission, March 26, 2024

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Proposed cultural district

Designate the first cultural district in Duncanville and the Best Southwest region, through the Texas Commission for the Arts, with Armstrong Park at the heart, including adjacent walkable areas along Main Street, E. Center, and E. Wheatland Road.

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What is a cultural district?

“As authorized by H.B. 2208 of the 79th Legislature, the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) can designate cultural districts in cities across Texas. Cultural districts are special zones that harness the power of cultural resources to stimulate economic development and community vitality. These districts can become focal points for generating businesses, attracting tourists, stimulating cultural development and fostering civic pride.”

Source: Texas Commission on the Arts

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Goals of cultural districts

“…a thriving creative sector is a powerful economic development asset. Cultural district designation is one strategy that helps a community boost their economies while realizing other cultural and civic benefits. The outcomes of cultural districts extend beyond the arts and can benefit all members of a community.”

Source: Texas Commission on the Arts

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Attracting artists and cultural enterprises to the community.

“Artists, cultural institutions and creative enterprises all contribute to a community’s economic potential. Not only do they generate direct economic activity, but artists and creative entrepreneurs infuse communities with energy and innovation.”

Source: Texas Commission on the Arts

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Encouraging business and job development.

“Cultural districts can create a hub of economic activity that contributes to the community being an appealing place to live, visit and conduct business. A thriving cultural scene helps an area to prosper when consumers drawn to cultural attractions patronize other nearby businesses. This can result in the creation of new economic opportunities and jobs.”

Source: Texas Commission on the Arts

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Addressing specific needs of a community.

“Cultural districts are a highly adaptable economic development approach that allows a community to make use of unique conditions, assets and opportunities.”

Source: Texas Commission on the Arts

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Establishing tourism destinations.

“Cultural districts are marketable tourism assets that highlight the distinct identity of a community and encourage in-state, out-of-state, and international visitors.”

Source: Texas Commission on the Arts

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Preserving and reusing historic buildings.

“Some cultural districts are very involved in historic preservation. Adaptive reuse and rehabilitation of older buildings through preservation tax credits can result in structural and façade improvements. These rehabilitated buildings provide opportunities for affordable artist live/work space and new homes for cultural organizations.”

Source: Texas Commission on the Arts

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Enhancing property values.

“Successful districts combine improvements to public spaces (such as parks, waterfronts and pedestrian corridors) along with property development. The redevelopment of abandoned properties, historic sites, and recruiting businesses to occupy vacant spaces can contribute to reduced vacancy rates and enhanced property values.”

Source: Texas Commission on the Arts

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Fostering local cultural development.

“The establishment of a cultural district provides a focal point for celebrating and strengthening a community’s cultural identity. Cultural districts highlight existing cultural amenities and work to recruit and establish new artists, cultural industries and organizations.”

Source: Texas Commission on the Arts

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State of the Arts Report, 2023

“… the impact of public grant funding for Cultural Districts far surpassed the initial public investment, earning a 2-to-1 return on investment ...”

Source: Leslie Ward, Board Chair, Texas Cultural Trust; The Longterm Growth of Cultural Districts: Four Case Studies

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54 cultural districts in Texas

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3 cultural districts in Dallas County

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0 cultural districts south of Dallas

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“Cultural districts can be part of creative placemaking or placekeeping efforts. It’s important to remember that TCA cultural district designation is most likely to be awarded to a district that is already defined in terms of leadership, geographic boundaries, branding, and current assets.”

Source: Texas Commission on the Arts

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Cultural districts do not change current zoning and our application won’t require new City funding. It will, however, require we all come together.

Item 4. Briefing on proposed 501(c)3 Cultural District Foundation.

Duncanville Arts Commission, March 26, 2024

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A home for a community of patrons to embrace the Arts in Duncanville.

Community-driven stakeholder development able to act as intermediary on activity that has municipal restrictions for City staff, departments, boards, and commission, including fundraising, resource management, outreach, education, and awareness projects.

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  • Arts Incubator

  • Event

  • Cultural District

  • Cultural District Foundation

  • City Commission/Department

  • Visitor Center

  • Private Foundation

  • Arts Funding Organization

  • Texas Commission for the Arts

  • Cultural District Businesses and Vendors

Item 5. Briefing on proposed Cultural District programming.

Duncanville Arts Commission, March 26, 2024

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A line item for the Arts.

within City/DCEDC budgets to evaluate current arts funding models and strategies throughout the City

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A line item for the Cultural District

and seed $1MM from the DCEDC HOT fund balance to a CULTURAL DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT FUND to be disseminated through grants and contracts for arts programming, capital development, and capacity building within the proposed cultural district.

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Suggested Funding Source: Duncanville Community & Economic Development Corp.

2023 Annual Report Filing

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Total Revenue: $3,028,186

Total Expenditures: $1,608,666

Fund Balance: $6,842,493

Source: Texas Comptroller’s Office

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Broadened eligibility for HOT funds?

“As authorized by H.B. 2208 of the 79th Legislature, the Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA) can designate cultural districts in cities across Texas. Cultural districts are special zones that harness the power of cultural resources to stimulate economic development and community vitality. These districts can become focal points for generating businesses, attracting tourists, stimulating cultural development and fostering civic pride.”

Source: Texas Commission on the Arts

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Grants & Sponsorships

  • Biannual grantmaking cycle to artists, arts organizations, and businesses wanting to partner with them.

  • Grants reviewed and approved by Arts Commission with participation from community panels

  • Funded by DCEDC

  • For proposed cultural district funding, grants could be disseminated, managed, and tracked by 501(c)3.

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Capital Improvement Funding

  • Hopkins Center (Parks & Rec Joint Session)

  • Poe-Hobden Amphitheater

  • Music Room

  • Outdoor exhibitions

  • Signage

  • Way finding from other parts of town and highways to cultural district

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Capacity Building

  • Fund administration

  • Leadership development

  • Endowment building

  • Fundraising training

  • Stakeholder development

  • City Hall management

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Cultural District Tourism Campaign

  • Exhibitions

  • Performances

  • Arts Incubation

  • Artist Residency

  • Restaurants

  • Galleries

  • Events

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Art begets art. Money begets money.

  • This is what transparency means for arts funding and could look like in Duncanville.

  • Stakeholders would appreciate this degree of transparency;

  • This degree of transparency will attract new stakeholders.

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The proposed cultural district needs to be treated like a cultural district NOW

  • Puts the onus of the community not City Hall to create and lean into arts-forward opportunities

  • Takes the most loved piece of property in Duncanville and gives the community more reasons to love it

  • Stakeholder development brings the community together and puts the decision making power out of City Hall and into the community

  • Attract outside funding from the State and institutional funders

  • Establishes a platform for individual audience-donor development

  • Support Main Street development

  • Enhance DISD amenities within the proposed cultural district

  • Encourage business growth and retention within the proposed cultural district and possibly adjacent areas

  • Supports current cultural development while encouraging new; IE: festivals and arts market

  • Strengthens existing cultural facilities;

    • Armstrong Park and all amenities,

    • Duncanville Community Theatre,

    • Duncanville Public Library,

    • Hopkins Center,

    • Lions Club,

    • Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center

  • Foster a thriving arts sector; including artist entrepreneurs and arts-forward retail

  • Creates audience interest for other parts of town; IE: Camp Wisdom entertainment district

  • Presents renewal solutions for underutilized property within the proposed cultural district and adjacent areas

  • Magnet for arts-adjacent industries; IE: restaurants, gift shops, art supplies, construction, printing, video, technology

  • Activates incubator and collaboration models

  • Provides a platform for robust marketing, branding, and visitor attraction campaigns

  • Puts the onus on the community, not City Hall, to create and lean into arts-forward opportunities

  • Requires no new funding from City budget

  • Does not change current zoning

  • Applies accumulated hotel occupancy tax collections for intended purposes in a comprehensive, collaborative approach.

  • Cultural District Foundation and Arts Commission can advise the new comprehensive planning committee but recommend it not become contingent on the committee; breaking any forward progress. Let the community create our own cultural identity organically.

Item 6. Open discussion to receive feedback and recommendations from the City Council regarding Items 3 through 5 of this agenda and other responsibilities as described in the Arts Commission's charter.

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  • Briefing on proposed Cultural District.

  • Briefing on proposed Cultural District Foundation, 501(c)3.

  • Briefing on proposed Cultural District programming.

Item 7. Recommend Fiscal Year 2024 funding for an agreement between the City of Duncanville and Texas Guitar Society for arts-related programming.

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Projects in motion - Growing Pains

  • Quarterly Arts & Business Mixers

  • Juneteenth Art Exhibit, June 2024 & 2025

  • Mexican Independence Day Art Exhibit, Sept. 2024 & 2025

  • Community Mural Program, 2025

  • Arts Festival & Market, Spring 2025

  • Arts Preview Week, September 13 to 21st

  • October is National Arts & Humanities Month

  • Art Film & Discussion Series

  • Arts-focused podcast

  • Hands-On Arts experiences, e.g. classes, seminars, workshops, makerspace

  • Christmas Parade Event

  • Our unique role for the Arts in North Texas

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Texas Guitar Society

  • Contract with Texas Guitar Society up to $49,500 for turnkey arts programs development, deployment, and management, through the end of the current 2023/24 fiscal year, to be completed in the next 2024/25 fiscal year.

  • Resident recommendation

  • “Our mission is to bring together guitar enthusiasts and provide a platform for them to share their passion and talent through virtual and in-person events. We connect venues, galleries, museums, cities, and artists. We also offer an online store where musicians can connect, discover performance opportunities, and shop for musical instruments and gear.”

  • “Our values are rooted in the belief that all artists should be fairly paid for their work and art. Support can be privately funded for the artist growth and success. As a private organization, we offer a capitalist solution - in an organic market we believe it is best to serve the community in a private business model - as opposed to relying on a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.”

Item 8. Presentation on Arts and Humanities Month in October with recommendation that Duncanville recognize this annual celebration through a mayoral proclamation.

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October is National Arts & Humanities Month

National Arts & Humanities Month was established in 1993 and is celebrated every October[1] in the United States. It was initiated to encourage Americans to explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives, and to begin a lifelong habit of participation in the arts and humanities. It has become the nation's largest collective annual celebration of the arts and humanities.

National Arts and Humanities Month's four goals are:

  • To create a national, state and local focus on the arts and humanities through the media,

  • To encourage the participation of individuals, as well as arts, humanities and other organizations nationwide,

  • To provide an opportunity for federal, state and local business, government and civic leaders to declare their support for the arts and humanities,

  • To establish a highly visible vehicle for raising public awareness about the arts and humanities.

Source: National Assembly of State Arts Agencies

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Proposed calendar leading up to new fiscal year and National Arts & Humanities Month

  • Sept. 15-16 — Mexican Independence Day Celebration (performance exhibition with visual art)

    • Texas Guitar Society

  • Sept. 17 — City Council Meeting - Proclamation for National Arts & Humanities Month

  • Sept. 22-28 — Duncanville Arts Week at multiple sites in the proposed cultural district

    • Texas Guitar Society

  • Sept. 24 — Arts Commission Regular Meeting

  • Sept. 30 — Arts Commission Reception for City stakeholders and community members

    • Texas Guitar Society

  • Oct. 1 — Start of National Arts & Humanities Month and new fiscal year programming

    • Texas Guitar Society and others

Item 7. Closing remarks from the Arts Commission Chair.

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Summary

  • The Arts is a multi-billion dollar industry we need to participate in.

  • Activity leading up to applying for cultural district designation by the Texas Commission on the Arts will bring the community together, establishing foundational changes to Duncanville. A successful application will make the cultural district eligible for new funding from the State and other institutional funders, in ways that would otherwise be unrealized.

  • The Arts belong to everyone; get funding and decision-making out of City Hall and into the community. City Councils change, boards and commissions change, staff changes — the arts need a reliability and endless bandwidth.

  • Funding policy by City Council for the Arts

  • Artists will create a unique identity for the community.

  • Events are one product of a robust arts sector, not the sole end result.

What can City Council members do now?

  • A line item for the ARTS within City/DCEDC budgets to evaluate current arts funding models and strategies;

  • Arts Commission has the final say on arts grants, sponsorships, and programming

  • A line item for CULTURAL DISTRICT and to seed $1MM from the DCEDC HOT fund balance to a CULTURAL DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT FUND to be disseminated through grants and contracts for arts programming, capital development, and capacity building within the proposed cultural district;

    • Arts Commission has the final say on arts grants, sponsorships, and programming

  • Recognize and support a nonprofit community-driven CULTURAL DISTRICT FOUNDATION

    • priority eligibility to contract with the City and DCEDC;

    • free use of City-owned space and City-owned/managed technology to conduct education, outreach, and fundraising activity

  • Recognition of October as National Arts and Humanities Month, through a proclamation;

  • Contract with Texas Guitar Society up to $49K for turnkey arts programs development, deployment, and management,  through the end of the current fiscal year to be completed in the next.

Item 8. Adjournment.