STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Quality of Life, Arts, and Culture
AGENDA DATE: December 11, 2024
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: Office of Arts and Culture
EXECUTIVE: M. Elizabeth Cedillo-Pereira
______________________________________________________________________
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Incorporated (DBDT) for the provision of artistic services to the City through the Cultural Organizations Program for a period ending September 30, 2025 in an amount not to exceed $248,435.00, subject to one of the following occurring on or before April 15, 2025: (i) a decision by the National Labor Relations Board finding that DBDT has not violated the National Labor Relations Act in Case Nos. 16-CA-343777, 16-CA-347632, 16-CA347638, and 16-CA-348257; or (ii) the execution of a settlement agreement between DBDT and the American Guild of Musical Artists - Not to exceed $248,435.00 - Financing: General Fund
Body
BACKGROUND
The Cultural Organizations Program (COP) provides funding for cultural services with established Dallas-based non-profit cultural organizations to support an array of programs, including concerts, plays, exhibitions, performances, workshops, and other cultural services, including virtual cultural services, over a twelve-month period. The Office of Arts and Culture (OAC) reviewed proposals from cultural organizations and applied objective administrative scoring per the revised program guidelines, which were approved by City Council in February 2024. Proposals and scores were analyzed by the Allocations Committee of the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission. Considering equity, administrative scoring, and organization budget size, the Allocations Committee met three times over the summer and developed a funding recommendation unanimously approved by this standing committee. This recommendation, which included COP funding for Dallas Black Dance Theater, Incorporated (DBDT) in the amount of $248,435.00, was subsequently unanimously approved by the full Arts and Culture Advisory Commission in September 2024.
After application and submission review and during the funding allocation process, DBDT terminated its main company dancers. As a result, the labor union, the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), who represents the dancers, filed charges against DBDT with the National Labor Relations Board (NRLB) alleging that DBDT violated the National Labor Relations Act, 29 U.S.C.A. §§ 151-169, as amended (the Act). On November 1, 2024, after investigating the charges, the NLRB issued a complaint against DBDT. The labor dispute between AGMA and DBDT is currently pending resolution.
On October 21, 2024, the Quality of Life, Arts & Culture Committee (QOLAC) of City Council considered the funding allocation recommendation for Dallas Black Dance Theatre along with 55 other Dallas-based nonprofit arts and cultural organizations through the FY 2024-25 Cultural Organizations Program. Considering the charges against DBDT, QOLAC recommended to City Council that the proposed funding allocations for consideration be recommended with the amendment, “to remand the funding allocation for Dallas Black Dance Theatre to the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission’s Allocations Committee for reconsideration and referral back to the Quality of Life Committee for further consideration.”
On October 23, 2024, the City Council approved the FY 2024-25 Cultural Organizations Program funding allocations as amended to adopt the QOLAC recommendation.
As resolved by City Council, the Allocations Committee of the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission met on November 7, 2024 to reconsider the funding allocation for DBDT. Acknowledging the importance of Dallas Black Dance Theater to the City of Dallas and to the communities that it serves, the Allocations Committee recommended that City Council preserve the initial funding recommendation of $248,435.00 for Dallas Black Dance Theatre pending one of the following outcomes of the labor dispute between AGMA and DBDT:
• The NLRB issues a decision on or before April 15, 2025 finding that the DBDT did not violate the Act, the full $248,435.00 funding recommendation for DBDT should be immediately approved.
• If an agreement or settlement is reached between DBDT and AGMA on or before April 15, 2025, the full $248,435.00 funding recommendation for DBDT should be immediately approved.
• If the NLRB issues a decision on or before April 15, 2025 finding that DBDT violated the Act, the full $248,435.00 funding recommendation should be reallocated to other Office of Arts and Culture programs for the 2025 fiscal year, including but not limited to: Community Arts, Community Artist Program (CAP), Culture of Value, or ArtsActivate with the direct instruction that consideration be given to funding ALAANA programming.
• If the labor dispute between AGMA and DBDT has not been resolved on or before April 15th, 2025, the full $248,435.00 funding recommendation should be reallocated to other Office of Arts and Culture programs for the 2025 fiscal year including but not limited to: Community Arts, CAP, Culture of Value, or ArtsActivate with the direct instruction that consideration be given to funding ALANNA programming.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On February 28, 2024, the City Council approved a resolution which authorized and established the FY 2024-2025 Cultural Organizations Program within the Office of Arts and Culture to support cultural services in the City of Dallas and approved the program guidelines by Resolution No. 24-0334.
On September 5, 2024, the Allocations Committee of the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission approved a recommendation in support of the FY 2024-25 Cultural Organizations Program funding allocations.
On September 19, 2024, the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission approved a recommendation in support of the FY 2024-25 Cultural Organizations Program funding allocations.
On October 21, 2024, the Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee of City Council recommended the FY 2024-25 Cultural Organizations Program funding allocations with an amendment to remand the funding allocation for DBDT back to the Allocations Committee of the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission.
On October 23, 2024, the City Council approved the FY 2024-25 Cultural Organizations funding allocations as amended to adopt the QOLAC recommendation.
On November 7, 2024, the Allocations Committee of the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission approved a recommendation in support of the parameters for the allocation of FY 2024-25 Cultural Organizations Program funds for Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Incorporated.
On November 21, 2024, the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission approved a recommendation in support of the parameters for the allocation of FY 2024-25 Cultural Organizations Program funds for Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Incorporated.
FISCAL INFORMATION
|
Fund |
FY 2025 |
FY 2026 |
Future Years |
|
General Fund |
$248,435.00 |
$0.00 |
$0.00 |