Title
National Endowment for the Arts "Our Town" Grant (Ordinance S-44879)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to apply for, accept, enter into an agreement for, and disburse up to $150,000 in a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) "Our Town" grant. The grant would be used to create works of public art and design that spark new thinking about effective ways to increase shade and reduce the urban heat island effect as part of the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative in the Edison-Eastlake community and elsewhere in Phoenix. Further request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept, and for the City Controller to disburse, all funds related to this item.
Report
Summary
The National Endowment for the Arts "Our Town" grant supports innovative arts and culture projects that strengthen communities by addressing significant economic, environmental or social conditions. The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture would coordinate the grant with the Mayor and Council offices, multiple City departments, the ASU School of Sustainability, and community groups and businesses in the Edison-Eastlake neighborhoods. Recent studies have identified the urban heat island effect as a major health and environmental challenge for residents of these neighborhoods. The NEA "Our Town" grant would enable the City to create temporary public works that address this critical urban challenge, bolstering ongoing City efforts to develop effective strategies for reducing the urban heat island Citywide.
Financial Impact
Cost to the City is in-kind resources only from the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture General Fund operating budget.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Phoenix Arts and Culture Commission recommended this item for approval at its June 19, 2018 meeting. The Parks, Arts, Education and Equality Subcommittee recommended this item for approval at its June 27, 2018, meeting by a vote of 3-0.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Office of Arts and Culture.