Title
Approval to Apply for a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Grant for the Armory Creative Campus
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee, although the Arts Commission has been informed of the grant possibility.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve an application for a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Our Town Grant for the Armory: Creative Campus - Facility Design.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve an application for a NEA Our Town grant for the Armory: Creative Campus - Facility Design. Because this is a matching grant application, with implications for the City budget, staff is requesting Council approval before moving forward.
In addition, as part of the application, the highest-ranking official of the local government is required to submit a formal statement of support designating the project as the one of the up to two applications being submitted for the local government.
Staff Contact:
Angel Nava, Arts Programs Specialist, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.753.8384
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar item.
Background and Analysis:
The Olympia Armory is a 50,000 sq ft 1930’s historic facility located next to our downtown creative district. In 2021, the Washington State Military Department plans to move to a new space leaving the Armory available for other uses. Recently, Governor Inslee signed an order offering the opportunity to transfer the Olympia Armory to the City of Olympia at no cost to the City. Nine city planning efforts over the last 30 years point to our community's desire for an Arts Center in Olympia.
The working vision of the Armory: Creative Campus is to support the arts as integral to Olympia’s way of life; encourage community growth through creativity and innovation; use the arts to connect people, ideas, and place, while operating from an equity framework.
In June 2021, a consulting team was selected to help lead a community visioning process to develop conceptual design and business plan to be completed by June of 2022. As the City prepares for a potential acquisition and Facility Design staff are seeking out ways to maximize existing resources to help lay the groundwork for potential space renovations. The National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Grant is a well-suited opportunity for this purpose. This is a $25,000 to $150,000 - 50/50 matching grant for projects that lay the groundwork for systemic changes that sustain the integration of arts, culture, and design into local strategies for strengthening communities
These projects require a partnership between a local government entity and nonprofit organization, one of which must be a cultural organization; and should engage in partnership with other sectors (such as agriculture and food, economic development, education and youth, environment and energy, health, housing, public safety, transportation, and workforce development).
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Nine City planning efforts over the last 30 years point to our community's desire for an Arts Center in Olympia - including the City Comprehensive Plan and the 2010 & 2016 Parks, Arts and Recreation Plans.
Options:
1. Move to approve application for an NEA Our Town Grant for the Armory: Creative Campus - Facility Design.
2. Move to not approve application for an NEA Our Town Grant for the Armory: Creative Campus - Facility Design.
3. Consider applying for an NEA Our Town Grant for the Armory: Creative Campus - Facility Design at another time.
Financial Impact:
Armory facility design is projected to cost roughly $300,000. If secured, the NEA Our Town Grant would cover $150,000 of this part of the project phase, with the remaining $150,000 coming from the Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation Capital Fund.
Attachments:
Resolution
Armory Info Sheet
Armory Creative Campus Concept Plan