‘A lot to celebrate.’ Foundation tops $18 million goal for Charlotte arts funding plan
The Foundation for the Carolinas has exceeded its fundraising goal of securing $18 million in private donations to support the city of Charlotte’s controversial arts budget plan.
The foundation said in a pre-taped “major virtual announcement” Thursday afternoon that it had raised $20 million, with seven more private donations coming in.
The city had decided to break decades of practice and no longer use the Arts & Science Council as a pass-through agency for arts funding. It instead decided to oversee that process itself, using a mix of public and private donations.
The foundation led the charge to raise $18 million in private donations that would be matched by $18 million from the city over three years for the arts, for a total of $36 million.
“The promise of this public and private partnership re-energizes our arts community,” said Michael Marsicano, president and CEO of the foundation. “In each of these efforts the generosity of local companies, foundations and philanthropists has exceeded our goals.
“We have a lot to celebrate.”
Not ‘business as usual’ for the arts
On Tuesday, the foundation said it was at nearly 90% of its goal, with $16 million in commitments.
On Thursday, the foundation said seven more private donors have committed to nearly $4 million: $1 million each from Lowe’s and Honeywell, $750,000 from LendingTree, $450,000 from The Gambrell Foundation, $300,000 each from EY and Robinson Bradshaw, and $150,000 from Fifth Third Bank.
A diverse art scene brings jobs in the hospitality and restaurant industry with tourism and attracting businesses to relocate, said Sally Gambrell Bridgford, president of The Gambrell Foundation.
“But on a human level, artists have the potential to shape the world, and our future,” Bridgford said. “This grant will not be business as usual in the arts. It will ensure the expression of important unheard voices and help create a vision forward in these complex and challenging times.”
The private sector gifts are critical to the city’s quality of life, Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison said, and this effort to support arts and culture “serves to elevate our community and help stabilize this sector for years to come.”
LendingTree CEO Doug Lebda talked about how musicals and literature have personally touched his life and helps drive creativity and innovation for his fintech businesses. LendingTree’s new headquarters has local art on display throughout the building, he said.
“Art surrounds us in everything we do from music to architecture and design to so much more,” Lebda said.
Leaders with arts groups like the Charlotte Symphony, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture and Discovery Place also talked about what this funding support means.
“Investing in science is good for us and creates a better future for our children,” said Paul Camuti, Discovery Place board chairman and executive vice president of Trane Technologies.
A plan fraught with controversy
The foundation was recruited by the city to lead its multi-year arts funding plan.
Despite more than doubling annual arts funding from the city, the plan has been controversial because it breaks tradition with the role of the ASC in working with arts groups on funding.
But under the city plan, ASC would no longer make key funding decisions. Instead a citizen-led grantmaking board will be formed made up of city and private-sector appointees. Also, an arts commissioner will be hired temporarily to help develop a long-term arts funding plan.
City Council is scheduled to vote to adopt the fiscal year 2022 budget on Monday.
More than 300 community members and clergy have demanded the city include increased funding for ASC for distribution to individual artists and small to mid-size organizations.
A chance to ‘increase support’ for the arts
Mayor Pro Tem Julie Eiselt said the goal is to look at collective arts needs — from individual creative types to legacy institutions in Charlotte — and find a way to provide stability.
Eiselt, chair of the Council’s Arts and Culture Committee, told the Observer Thursday that she was “excited” for the foundation’s announcement but declined to disclose details.
“Like everything, industries evolve and our arts sectors has evolved, as well,” Eiselt said. “Change is always frightening and hard, especially when you’ve just been through a pandemic and these organizations are really struggling to know if they can stay with their long-term plans.
“It’s very clear, and that’s part of our announcement today, that there’s an opportunity to increase our support.”
Helpings arts groups in a pandemic
Just two days ago, the foundation said it was close to its goal after raising a combined $1.2 million in commitments from four more companies — $300,000 from Wells Fargo, $100,000 from Premier Inc. and an undisclosed amount from Deloitte and Nucor — as well as from individuals.
“A vibrant cultural sector is important for the quality of life and economic health of the Charlotte region,” said Leon Topalian, president and CEO of Nucor Corp. in a statement from the Foundation. “Arts organizations were hit hard by the pandemic, making the financial support of the business community and the city of Charlotte vital to their continued success.”
Other companies that have committed to the drive include: Albemarle Foundation; Ally Financial; Atrium Health; Bank of America; Barings; The Centene Charitable Foundation; Childress Klein; Coca-Cola Consolidated; Duke Energy; JELD-WEN Inc.; Moore & Van Allen; National Gypsum/C.D. Spangler Foundation; Novant Health; PwC; Red Ventures; Rodgers Builders; Trane Technologies; and Truist.
History with ASC
The ASC has served as the city’s pass-through arts funding agency for more than 40 years.
The city’s decision to change the model also came after ASC apologized in February for upholding funding practices that led to racial disparity, according to the nonprofit’s Cultural Equity report.
City leaders have said that ASC relies on dwindling workplace giving to fund raise and noted that a Mecklenburg County sales-tax referendum in 2019 that would have boosted ASC funding failed.
“The residents of this community spoken very clearly that the status quo was no longer acceptable,” said Council member Tariq Bokhari, who’s also on the Arts and Culture Committee. “We have now found a new, revived sense of willingness to invest by the private sector. We are innovating and we are moving forward.”
The new plan also could give the city more say in arts funding policies, what is expected in return and how its arts buildings are used.
The goal is to be more competitive with other cities in economic development and tourism, city officials said.
With a strong arts ecosystem, Charlotte could become a weekend destination — not just a draw for conventions, Eiselt said.
The ASC typically receives $3.2 million from the city, which is 23% of the agency’s budget.
Under the new city plan, ASC will receive $1.3 million —$800,000 for operations and $500,000 for grant-making — in the coming fiscal year, Eiselt confirmed Thursday. It’s unclear how much funding or what role the arts organization will play in the future.
Krista Terrell, named president of ASC in April, said Thursday this means ASC will have less to “invest in the people, programs and ideas that move us toward a more equitable, sustainable and innovative creative ecosystem.”
Through the city’s unrestricted investment last year, Terrell has said more than 37 arts, science and history organizations and over 50 cultural projects led by small- and mid-sized organizations and individuals were funded.
However, Terrell is happy with increased funding for the arts and culture because, she said, ASC has been advocating for such a boost in funding for many years.
“The sector needs support in a significant way, especially due to the pandemic, for it to recover,” Terrell said. “I hope those dollars are invested in an equitable way by the advisory council.”
Local arts organizations have lost about $50 million revenue, according to the foundation. Charlotte’s cultural sector generates an annual economic impact of $360 million, according to the foundation.
Terrell said the city has indicated ASC will have a role in the arts plan, but the group has not been formally approached to be part of the newly planned arts advisory board.
Regarding the cultural equity report, Terrell said it’s important for people to understand that ASC has been on a journey for six years to become a more equitable organization. “The report is us not just apologizing, it’s also telling our journey and the progress we have made,” she said.
ASC support
On Thursday, over 40 Charlotte clergy joined more than 270 artists and community members demanding that the city approve $2.25 million of the proposed $12 million arts budget to be allocated to ASC. The funding would go to local artists and organizations through granting programs and support ASC programs and equity training, the group said in a statement.
“While we are grateful to the City Council and the private sector for increasing financial support to the sector, we want to see the additional funds support artists (especially BIPOC artists), as well as small and mid-size organizations,” ART Future clergy said in a letter to the city.
In April, more than 130 artists and community members sent a list of demands to the city that included increase funding for the ASC to invest in its cultural equity work and develop physical space for creatives and small organizations to work at a low or no cost outside of uptown.
They also wanted assurance organizations in the county will maintain funding even if they do not reside in the city.
Mecklenburg County, which funds arts initiatives in six towns, said last month it will continue to fund arts groups and individuals through ASC.
This story was originally published June 10, 2021 at 11:29 AM.