Mayor David Bieter today announced a new grant program to support arts and history organizations that demonstrate a positive impact on Boise’s economic vitality.

The two-part, $105,000 program will provide funding to a single organization that highlights Boise’s national standing as a cultural destination and to four additional organizations that demonstrate a positive effect on our local economy.

“A robust creative economy is essential to the economic growth of Boise,” Mayor David Bieter said. “A recent study by Americans for the Arts indicates that each year, the economic impact of the arts on the city of Boise is more than $38 million. In addition, each dollar spent by a government entity on cultural efforts generates $7 in return. With this kind of impact, Boise must continue to support its arts organizations to the fullest extent possible.”  

Grant money for the program will come from the City’s economic development fund, generated by the rental of City-owned rail property.  No tax dollars will be used.  

The program’s two components are:

The Mayor’s Economic Development Cultural Ambassador Award
A $25,000 discretionary award to a local arts organization that exemplifies the best of Boise’s vibrant and diverse cultural community and that highlights, both locally and throughout the country, Boise’s ongoing commitment to arts and history.

In a ceremony today at City Hall, Mayor Bieter announced his selection of Trey McIntyre Project (TMP) as the City’s first Economic Development Cultural Ambassador. The award will be used to create a ballet exploring Basque culture and its impact on Idaho. The ballet will premiere at the Jaialdi 2010 International Basque Cultural Festival in July and then tour nationally. Jaialdi, which is held in Boise once every five years, is a major economic driver that draws thousands of attendees from all over the world. TMP has a proven record of attracting considerable attention to Boise through news coverage from such national outlets as the New York Times.

Mayor’s Arts and History Economic Development Grants
An $80,000 competitive grant program, with $20,000 awarded to each of four arts or cultural organizations. Applicants must demonstrate a positive impact on Boise’s economy by providing information about staffing, demographics, ticket sales, purchase of local goods and services, and other direct and indirect economic benefits to the local economy. They must also demonstrate a strong management team and operating plan, and how the grant award would be leveraged to further their creative and economic impact on our community.

Any arts or history organization with a budget of $200,000 or greater may apply, excluding organizations currently serving as the Mayor’s Cultural Ambassador and those receiving in-kind and/or direct support from the City. Past recipients of the City Arts & History Fund grants that meet the criteria above will be allowed to apply. Those receiving funding from this program will be ineligible to apply for the City Arts & History Fund grant program for the upcoming year (Fiscal Year 2011, which begins October 1, 2010). Guidelines for the program can be downloaded at www.cityofboise.org/ArtsAndHistory/Opportunities/Grants/. Applications must be submitted in PDF form to experienceboise@cityofboise.org before 5:00 p.m. on June 18, 2010.

Both of these new grant programs are funded through the current year only but will be reviewed in future years as resources allow.