TO: Chair and Members of the Board
FROM: Diane Colonna, Executive Director
DATE: August 23, 2016
Title
RESOLUTION APPROVING GRANT APPLICATION WITH BROWARD STAGE DOOR THEATER TO ESTABLISH AN ARTS INCUBATOR - NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
BACKGROUND:
The Broward Stage Door Theater, which is located in the MCRA District at the rear of the Holiday Springs Shopping Center, has asked the MCRA to partner with it on establishing an arts incubator in vacant space in the Chevy Chase Plaza. The incubator will provide space for performance and visual arts, including exhibit and studio space, and will foster the growth and development of creative industries in Margate. The facility will establish partnerships with local schools to involve students in theater productions, and programs will be created to promote community engagement in the arts. The attached Proposal provides additional information about the incubator and the proposed use of the funds.
As the primary partner in the grant, the CRA’s participation would consist of the following:
• Work with theater staff and CRA consultants in the planning and design of the incubator
• Provide funds (grant match) for the design and build out of the incubator space (up to $100,000)
• Allow the use of the space rent free (value approximately $36,000/year)
• Help to promote the facility and programs (mostly through social media)
• Process façade/landscape grant applications for improvement to the existing Broward Stage Door Theater building (as part of the match); up to $35,000 total ($25,000 for façade grant match; $10,000 for landscape/parking lot match)
• Monitor operations to ensure CRA’s goals for the facility are being met.
It is estimated that the facility could be operational for 3 to 5 years, depending upon the timing of the City Center redevelopment project. It’s possible that some of the functions could transfer to the new Community Center/Amphitheater, or to other space in the project. The grant application is due to the NEA by September 12, 2016. Notice of grant awards will be issued in April 2017, and if approved, projects can begin in August 2017. Any funds spent prior to August 2017 would not count toward the match. If approved, a grant agreement would be drawn up between Broward Stage Door Theater and the MCRA specifying each party’s responsibilities and obligations.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Resolution authorizing the MCRA to partner with the Broward Stage Door Theater in the application to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to establish an arts incubator in CRA owned tenant space.
FISCAL IMPACT: The MCRA’s potential financial contributions to the project are detailed above. If approved, the project cannot start until August of 2017, therefore most of the fiscal impact will be in FY 2018.
CONTACT PERSON: Diane Colonna, Executive Director