STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Vibrant
AGENDA DATE: April 23, 2025
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): Citywide
DEPARTMENT: Office of Arts and Culture
EXECUTIVE: M. Elizabeth Cedillo-Pereira
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SUBJECT
Title
A resolution authorizing the ArtsActivate 2026 Program, a project-based cultural support program within the Office of Arts and Culture to support art and cultural services in the City of Dallas for FY 2025-26 and approving the program guidelines - Financing: No cost consideration to the City
Body
BACKGROUND
The Cultural Policy of the City of Dallas, adopted on November 28, 2018 by Resolution No. 18-1683, provides that guidelines for the various Cultural Support Programs will be submitted for review and approval of the City Council. This serves to affirm the artistic nature of services to be provided through these various cultural programs and to specify the review and selection process for cultural services.
ArtsActivate 2026, as it will be referred to for FY 2025-26, is the project-based funding program for Dallas-based arts and culture organizations, individual artists, social service organizations, and other eligible non-profit organizations. ArtsActivate 2026 will continue to emphasize the goals of public benefit, neighborhood/community engagement and equity. The program will open for three rounds for funding in FY 2025-26. The goals of ArtsActivate 2026 are as follows:
1. Engage with the Dallas Cultural Plan 2018 and create programming to address its priorities and initiatives
2. Provide public benefit by enhancing and diversifying artistic and cultural experiences to the residents of the City of Dallas
3. Increase access and inclusivity in the experience of art and creativity for communities that have been historically underserved
4. Connect individuals from diverse cultures, ages and economic means in an effort to strengthen communities and/or neighborhoods through the arts
5. Invest in historically underserved communities with artists or organizations rooted in that community to build individual capacity and economic viability
The Dallas Cultural Plan 2018 and the Cultural Policy were adopted following a year-long cultural planning effort, which included in-depth regional, national, and international research, engagement with Dallas residents, artists, organizations, and City staff and leaders. Over 9,000 Dallas residents were engaged in this process to develop over one hundred initiatives and strategies under these six priorities: equity, diversity, space, support for artists, sustainable arts ecosystem, and communication.
ArtsActivate 2026 seeks to improve equity through expanded and adapted programmatic offerings in Dallas neighborhoods. Applicants will be partially scored on their proposals to provide cultural services in Dallas neighborhoods outside of the urban core of the city.
Notable updates and changes in the proposed ArtsActivate 2026 Guidelines include:
• Application and program timeline
• Program eligibility language to emphasize the required compliance to the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act
• Changes in program ineligibility for non-profit organizations which receive $100,000.00 or more through the Cultural Organizations Program
• Changing panel and administrative scoring to be 70 points and 30 points respectively (previously 75 points and 30 points). Additional 5 points will be applied for the successful completion of a quiz on City insurance and special event requirements .
Cultural Support Programs will continue to be brought forward for City Council approval on an annual basis as the Office of Arts and Culture continues to implement initiative and strategies identified in the Dallas Cultural Plan 2018.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On April 3, 2025, the Allocations Committee of the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission voted to recommend these guidelines for the ArtsActivate 2026 program.
On April 10, 2025, the Arts and Culture Advisory Commission voted to recommend these guidelines for the ArtsActivate 2026 program.
The Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee will be briefed by memorandum on these guidelines on April 21, 2025.
FISCAL INFORMATION
No cost consideration to the City.