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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 02-09-2006-5hORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: Febn~ary 9, 2006 Action Agenda Item No.~ SUBJECT: BOCC Contribution for the Orange County Jazz Festival DEPARTMENT: Recreation and Parks PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Geoffrey Hathaway, RPAC 270-1899 Lori Taft, Rec and Parks, ext 2660 PURPOSE: To provide the Board with information so that it may consider providing financial assistance for the Department's third annual "Cool Jazz" Festival held at River Park in Hillsborough. While several bands have been booked for this event, the GBS Recording artist and Grammy award winner: David Sanchez as well as the .lohn Brown quartet -possibly featuring another nationally recognized artist -are the groups for which the Board's "sponsorship" assistance is requested. BACKGROUND: The third annual "Cool Jazz" Festival, scheduled for Apri129, 2006, is a part of the Orange County Performance Series, which began in the fall of 2003 with the "Voices of Praise" Gospel Festival. Last year's .lazz festival featured Eve Cornelius and the Chip Crawford Trio along with the North Carolina Central University, This year, along with North Carolina Central, we have contracted with the Elon University Jazz Ensemble. Rounding out this year's line tap will be Susan Reeves, Equinox and Will McBride. Locally, Cedar Ridge and Orange High Schools and A.LStanback Middle School Bands will perform. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring performers of the caliber of David Sanchez and the John Brown quartet to our community as headliners. The number of acts and groups performing is limited by available stage time. Groups from northern Orange County this year, and in the past have filled the three local school slots. These schools have had limited opportunities for exposure compared to other schools in Orange County. These local groups have amazing talent. Two have won major awards for excellence and the Cedar Ridge and A.L. Stanback Bands have assisted with the logistics of the festival and getting it off the ground during the past two years. With this third year, in establishing the festival as a "permanent fixture" in the hearts and minds of Jazz and music enthusiasts, there will be a subsequent opportunity to attract groups from other schools and colleges. We have asked the University Band Directors to review our local bands, evaluate talent, and speak with individuals about scholarship opportunities with their Universities. We hope to continue to enhance the talent level at the festival each year so that performers will eventually seek us out to join in celebrating the different types of Jazz Music in a festival that Orange County can be proud to call its own. The Jazz Festival committee is in the process of initiating the public relations campaign. As in past years, a full media "blitz" is anticipated. In 2005 it was difficult to miss news of this upcoming event. Volunteers primarily conduct this campaign. Members of the business community have joined with us in supporting this project. So far 9 businesses and individuals have contributed $6,150. They realize that their assistance will benefit not only the student musicians and jazz lovers in the community but our area businesses and economy as well. Performers and audience members will visit local restaurants, hotels and businesses in the area, paying forward the initial investment in the project. The focus of the event has been and will continue to be Jazz. Ctarrent resources have not allowed full exploration of a potential partnership with the arts community, although this has been discussed all along, Arts and Crafts vendors would be a welcome addition to the festival, but staff has not had the opportunity or resources to develop this potential aspect of the program, There may be an opportunity to work with area leaders in the arts in developing this next year, At its .January 12 Board Meeting, the Economic Development Commission expressed its full support for the upcoming Cool .lazz Festival as a means of promoting the Quality of Life in Orange County. Members of the Recreation and Parks Advisory Council and of the Pertormance Series Committee wished to express their hope to the Commissioners that they consider participating in the festival again this year as sponsors of the feature acts. Geoffrey Hathaway represents the Council and the Committee in bringing this request forward to the Board. FINANCIAL IMPACT: This is the third year of the .lazz Festival, The chart below summarizes the funding history of the event. Jazz Festival Expenditures FY 2003.04 FY 2004-OS Actual Actual FY 2005-06 1Total Jazz Festival Expenditures 1 $5,0821 $15,0211 $21,815 I Jazz Festival Revenues FY 2003.04 FY 2004-05 A r.fua 1 A cfu a 1 FY 2005-06 P r n f n d O rig final Recreation and Parks Bud et $3,675 $5,000 $5,000 Additional Funding from Orange Count Commissioners gq $5,000 $5,000 Committed S onsorshi Fundin $1,407 $5,021 $6,150 Anticipated Additional Sponsorship Funding Needed Prior to Jazz $0 $0 $5,665 Festival Total Jazz Festival Revenues $5,082 $15,021 $21,815 As outlined in the chart above, costs of hclding the .)azz Festival have increased since the first Festival was held in April 2004 -rising from about $5,100 in the first year to approximately $22,000 this year. This is reflective of the community's support of the event, as well as the increase in the caliber of performers attracted and contracted. With relatively little Festival history to reflect On during the current year's budget planning process last spring, the Manager recommended, and the Board ultimately approved, current year funding for the Festival at the same level as the previous fiscal year - $.5,000. As indicated in the chart above, business partners and private supporters of the Festival have donated $6,150 have thus far from to offset casts. Comparing costs and currently available revenues, a funding gap of $10,500 between exists. Staff and volunteer committee members continue to be diligent in soliciting sponsorships from the business community, and they expect to raise at least an additional $5,665 to support the Festival. To that end, the Recreation and Parks Advisory Council requests that the Commissioners appropriate $5,000 from Commissioners Contingency to assist with costs associated with the Festival. (The approved 2005-06 Contingency budget totaled $35,000; to date, the Board has approved appropriations totaling $16,000 from the account leaving $19,000 unappropriated at this time.) Should the donations fall short of the projected budget, the department plans to cut back expenses to match available funding. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the information above and consider the proposed contribution.