by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
Like a house full of children, Jacksonville is bursting at the seams from growth. With the momentum anticipated from the Better Jacksonville Plan, the 2005 Super Bowl, downtown revitalization and a strong economy, the city appears poised for continued expansion.
One benefit of the good times has been an increased interest — and funding — for the arts community.
“We’re looking at level funding for the year,” said Robert White, executive director of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville. “So far, everybody that has come to the table has been funded.”
For the last three years, the number of art-related organizations receiving support from the Council has increased steadily.
According to White, the Council was able to fund 19 agencies in fiscal year 2000, 24 in 2001 and 30 this year. Applicants for fiscal year 2003 have swelled to 44 agencies.
Although local art organizations have been receiving their share of funding, the Council is facing a new challenge.
“Over the last couple of years, the emphasis has been on meeting the needs of new and emerging arts to help them become more competitive,” explained White. “Emerging institutions are more grassroots with a natural appeal to those who are intimidated to walk through the doors of an imposing museum or symphony. A lot of times, new art institutions provide services to the most vulnerable — children and those that are under served. There is a rise in significant numbers of eligible institutions coming to the table, but I don’t think an increase in available funds will be commiserate with that need.”
Because of the rigorous nature of the application process, some programs are eliminated. Others drop out at different junctures in the process. Still, White is concerned that there will be enough money for everybody.
The Cultural Council begins to formulate its budget in July and applications are accepted into late summer with allocation hearings scheduled for late September.
Well-established institutions such as the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens and the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art have no need to fear tight purse strings. It’s the little guys with the big missions that need the help.
“The design is to help anticipate what the need is going to be,” said White. “Now we have roughly $500,000 in preapplication requests in excess of what we were able to allocate for 2002. So we are going to have to fund with the same money in 2003 but with half a million dollars more in requests. There will remain a significant increase in organizations requesting funding. If funding stays level, it will become tricky.”
Who’s going to get what is still undecided. One course would be to distribute an equitable share where more stable institutions who can easily generate dollars independently receive less, and the fledgling groups receive a little more. Of course, not everyone will be thrilled about the outcome.
“I think the focus for our plans will be to be as inclusive as we can so more new and emerging agencies are included yet be fair to those that continue to receive funding,” said White.
“It might be a bumpy road, but overall, the picture going forward is very positive. We have a body of talented, passionate people who have found ideas about how to deliver. Art thrives when there is a commitment to meet the real needs of people at the time. The life cycle of an art institution closely mirrors that of an individual. When they fail to meet the population’s needs or address interests, they fade away.”