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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-560-E-Arts Commission-Hillsborough Arts Council -2023-24 Arts GrantsGRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM / ARTIST PROJECT GRANT 2023-24  Grantee Name  Authorizing Official  Project Title     Award   Grant Category   ☐Artist Project Grant Program Funding Source   Date   End Date   OCAC Report Due  ☐Grassroots Arts Program ☐North Carolina Arts Council  ☐ Orange County July 1, 2023 June 30, 2024 Monday, July 15, 2024 Stipulations   ☐Grantee must spend $  on the hiring of multicultural artists specified in  the grant application. ☐Grantee must properly credit the Orange County Arts Commission using the proper logo on all publicity materials for the funded program. Recipients of operations‐related grants must include the OCAC logo with link to www.artsorange.org on grantee’s website.  Download logos on the OCAC website at https://artsorange.org/grants/grantee‐resources ☐Grantee must properly credit the Orange County Arts Commission and the N.C. Arts Council using the proper logos and N.C. Arts Council credit line on all publicity materials for funded program. Recipients of operations‐related grants must include the OCAC logo with link to www.artsorange.org and N.C. Arts Council logo, credit line, and link to www.ncarts.org on grantee’s website. Download logos and view proper credit line language on the OCAC website at https://artsorange.org/grants/grantee‐resources ☒The Grant Recipient must enter all events, exhibits, and performances (virtual or in‐ person) open to the public and related to this grant award on the Orange County Arts Commission website at www.artsorange.org/events. In addition, the Grant Recipient must add a link to www.artsorange.org  (Orange County Arts Commission logo preferred) to their main webpage. Staff Contact  Katie Murray, Director  (919)245‐2335 | kmurray@orangecountync.gov Hillsborough Arts Council Mollie Thomas Executive Director Support for Capital Investment in Operating Technology $6,482.00 4 4 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E 1 Revised August 2022 ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION 2023-24 GRANT AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT, entered into this 29 day of September, 2023, by and between Orange County ("County"), by and through the Orange County Arts Commission ("Arts Commission") and ("Grant Recipient"). WHEREAS, the Arts Commission is a countywide arts agency that ensures the growth of local arts experiences by providing funding and support for diverse high quality programs and projects. WHEREAS, the Arts Commission administers the annual Grants Program to provide economic opportunities to Orange County artists and non-profit organizations coordinating arts projects benefiting the citizens of Orange County. WHEREAS, the annual Arts Grants Program is supported by Arts Commission with funds from the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, a state agency. WHEREAS, the Grant Recipient was selected by the Arts Commission to receive the annual Arts Grant through the procedures duly adopted by the Arts Commission; and WHEREAS, both parties wish to promote and maintain the integrity and clarity of the Grant Recipient's ideas and statements and delineate the Grant Recipient’s obligations to the County; NOW, THEREFORE, the County and the Grant Recipient, for the consideration and under the conditions hereinafter set forth, agree as follows: 1.Approved Grant Project. Grant funds are provided under this Agreement for the project (“Project”) described in the Grant Recipient’s Grant Application, attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A. 2.Grant Award. Grant funds in an amount not to exceed ($ ) have been awarded by the Arts Commission to the Grant Recipient for the approved Project. The Recipient shall be required to match funds at least dollar-for-dollar with cash from the Grant Recipient’s funds not derived from either Orange County appropriations or the North Carolina Arts Council, as outlined in the attached Exhibit A. 3.Contingency. This grant is contingent on North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Program funding to the Arts Commission. Final decisions on Grassroots Program funds to the North Carolina Arts Council are subject to approval by the North Carolina General Assembly. 4.Responsibilities of the Grant Recipient Hillsborough Arts Council six thousand four hundred eighty-two dollars $6,482.00 DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E 2 Revised August 2022 A.Implementation. The Project implementation shall take place between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. The Project shall be implemented in the manner described in Exhibit A. Time is of the essence in the implementation of the Project. B.Modifications to project. Grant Recipient shall present major changes to the original proposal, including but not limited to changes in design, implementation schedule and increase in Project budget by more than 10%, in writing to the Arts Commission for approval. Arts Commission shall approve or disapprove Grant Recipient’s request for modifications within seven (7) days of receipt thereof. Consent to project modifications shall not be unreasonably withheld. Arts Commission’s decisions shall be in writing. In the event the Arts Commission fails to approve or disapprove the requested modifications within the time stated herein, the modifications shall be deemed approved. C.Non–assignment. The grant cannot be assigned or transferred to a different project or artist without prior written approval of the Arts Commission. D.Records. Grant Recipient must maintain records and other evidence pertaining to costs incurred and revenues acquired during the Project implementation. Grant Recipient shall maintain financial records pertaining to the Project for three (3) years from the date of this Agreement, in case of audit. E.Use of Funds. Grant Recipient shall not use the grant funds to repay outstanding taxes or other debts of any nature. The grants shall be utilized solely for the purpose described in the attached Exhibit A. F.Final Report. Grant Recipient shall submit to the Arts Commission a Final Report on July 15, 2024. The Final Report shall be in the format required by the North Carolina Arts Council. Failure to submit the Final Report or late submission of the Final Report, for any reason, shall be grounds for denial and/or cancellation of grant funds for the Project and future grant proposals. 5.Responsibilities of the Arts Commission A.Payment. The Arts Commission shall release the grant funds in the amount of $ to the Grant Recipient. 6.Publicity A.Acknowledgement. Credit must be given to the Orange County Arts Commission and/or the North Carolina Arts Council using the proper logo(s) and credit line in brochures, news releases, programs, and all other printed and online publications. Copies of such printed materials must accompany the evaluation report. Official Orange County Arts Commission and North Carolina Arts Council logos may be downloaded at www.artsorange.org/grantee-resources and may not be altered in any way. When no printed information is used, verbal $6,482.00 DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E 3 Revised August 2022 credit shall be given. In addition, all print and promotional material must include the following credit line and logo(s) (check all that apply): i.County Funds Only. Orange County Arts Commission logo required. Credit line required for audio projects: “This program is supported by the Orange County Arts Commission.” ii.North Carolina Arts Council Funding. The Orange County Arts Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council logos are required. Credit line: “This program is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.” B.The Grant Recipient must enter all events, exhibits, and performances open to the public and related to this grant award on the Orange County Arts Commission website at www.artsorange.org/events. In addition, the Grant Recipient must add a link to www.artsorange.org (Orange County Arts Commission logo preferred) to their main webpage. 7.Indemnity. The Grant Recipient agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the County, the Arts Commission and the North Carolina Arts Council and their officers and employees from any and all claims or actual injury, damage or loss to a person, or real or personal property that results from or is in any way connected to the use of the grant funds. 8.Independent Contractor. The Grant Recipient is an independent contractor and not an employee, agent or other representative of the County and/or the Arts Commission. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed to create the relationship of principal and agent, or employer and employee, between Grant Recipient and Arts Commission or Orange County Government. Grant Recipient understands and agrees that he/she is not authorized to incur any expenses or any liability whatsoever on behalf of the County or the Arts Commission and has no authority, expressed or implied, to obligate or make representations on behalf of the County or the Arts Commission. In addition, Grant Recipient agrees to maintain his or her own worker's compensation insurance for himself/herself and his or her employees for the duration of the art work's installation. 9.Termination A.In the event of any of the circumstances set forth below (hereinafter referred to as “default”), the Arts Commission may immediately terminate this Agreement: (i)Any fraudulent representation in any verification required to obtain payment under this Agreement or other dishonesty on a material matter relating to the performance of services under this Agreement. (ii)Nonperformance, incomplete service or performance, or failure to satisfactorily perform any part of the Project or to comply with any provision of this Agreement, as determined by the Arts Commission in its sole discretion. 4 DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E 4 Revised August 2022 (iii)Failure to adhere to the terms of applicable county, state or federal laws, regulations, or stated public policy. B.In the event of default by the Grant Recipient, the Arts Commission has the discretion to elect to terminate this Agreement, in whole or in part and/or require the Grant Recipient to repay the grant funds within seven (7) from written notice of default or allow the grant recipient the opportunity to cure the default. This clause shall not be interpreted to limit the County’s or the Arts Commission’s remedies in law or in equity. 10.Miscellaneous. A.Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the attachments contain the final and entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. All modifications and amendments to this Agreement shall be in writing. This Agreement shall be binding upon the parties, their heirs, successors and assigns. B.Governing Law. Governing Law and Priority: Both parties agree that this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina and Orange County. Grant Recipient shall at all times remain in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations including but not limited to all state and federal anti-discrimination laws, policies, rules, and regulations and the Orange County Non-Discrimination Policy and Orange County Living Wage Policy (each policy is incorporated herein by reference and may be viewed at http://www.orangecountync.gov/departments/purchasing_division/contracts.php.). Any violation of this requirement is a breach of this Agreement and Arts Commission may immediately terminate this Agreement without further obligation on the part of the Arts Commission. This paragraph is not intended to limit and does not limit the definition of breach to discrimination. By executing this Agreement the Grant Recipient certifies that they has not been identified, and has not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.58. By executing this Agreement the Grant Recipient certifies that they has not been identified, and has not utilized the services of any agent or subcontractor identified, on the list created by the State Treasurer pursuant to G.S. 147-86.81. By executing this Agreement Grant Recipient affirms they are and shall remain in compliance with Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the North Carolina General Statutes. In determining the basic services to be provided, should any documents be referenced in or attached to this Agreement, the terms herein shall have priority in any conflict between the terms of referenced documents and the terms of this Agreement. C.Dispute Resolution: Neither party may initiate binding arbitration. Any disputes shall be resolved by nonbinding mediation. If such mediation fails either party may initiate litigation to resolve the dispute. Should either party initiate litigation to settle any dispute involving the terms of this Agreement such litigation shall be DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E 5 Revised August 2022 initiated in the General Court of Justice of North Carolina seated in Orange County, North Carolina. D.Signatures. This Agreement together with any amendments or modifications may be executed electronically. All electronic signatures affixed hereto evidence the intent of the Parties to comply with Article 11A and Article 40 of North Carolina General Statute Chapter 66. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Orange County and the Grant Recipient have signed this Grant Agreement, effective on the last date this Agreement is signed by both parties as indicated by the dates set forth under signatures below. For and on behalf of the Grant Recipient Date For and on behalf of Orange County Government Bonnie Hammersley, County Manager Date Mollie Thomas Executive Director DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E 10/6/2023 10/9/2023 6 Revised August 2022 ORANGE COUNTY—DEPARTMENT USE ONLY Department Party/Vendor Name: Party/Vendor Contact Person: Contact Phone: Party/Vendor Address: City State: NC Zip: Department: COUNTYMGR/Arts Commission Amount: Purpose: 2023-24 Arts Grants Budget Code(s):30601020-683000-96060 Vendor # (N/A if new vendor) Vendor is a BOCC consultant? Yes No Contract Type: (Check one) New Renewal Amendment Effective No Date 9-29-2023 Approved by Board Yes Agenda Date: This agreement is approved as to technical form and content: Department Director’s Signature Date: Information Technologies (Applicable only to hardware/software purchases or related services) This agreement has been reviewed and is approved as to information technology content and specifications: Office of the Chief Information Officer Date: Risk Management This agreement is approved for sufficiency of insurance standards, specifications, and requirements: Office of the Risk Management Officer Date: Financial Services This instrument has been pre-audited in the manner required by the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act: Office of the Chief Financial Officer Date: Legal Services This agreement is approved as to legal form and sufficiency: Office of the County Attorney Date: Clerk to the Board Received for record retention: All Docusign contracts must be copied to Laura Jensen upon completion @ljensen@orangecountync.gov The following signature block is for hard copies only and is not required for Docusign contracts: Office of the Clerk to the Board _Date:_ Hillsborough Arts Council Mollie Thomas 9196432500 102 N Churton St Hillsborough 27278 $6,482.00 19946 DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E 10/5/2023 10/9/2023 10/9/2023 10/9/2023 Orange County Arts Commission Powered by Submittable Title Hi l l sborough Arts Counci l by Mollie Thomas in 2023-24 Grassroots Arts Program Grant Application 102 N. Churton St. Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 NC United States 9196432500 director@hillsboroughartscouncil.org 06/14/2023 id. 40755506 Original Submission 06/14/2023 APPLICANT INFORMATION Please tell us about your organization. Organization Name Hillsborough Arts Council Mailing Address of Organization 102 N Churton St How did you hear about our grant program? W ord of mouth Did you or a representative of your orgnanization attend one of our grants training sessions? Yes Nature of Organization Arts Organization Organization Description The Hillsborough Arts Council (HAC) is a community-building nonprofit arts organization that has been serving neighbors, artists, and visitors of Hillsborough, NC for 35 years. HAC is committed to providing access to the arts for educational engagement, community development, and economic prosperity through its mission of enriching community through the arts. Located in historic downtown Hillsborough, HAC’s headquarters known as the Gallery & Gift Shop (G&GS) provides a creative environment for 55+ local artists to share their work. In addition to operating the G&GS year-round, HAC is well-known for presenting signature events such as Last Fridays & the Art W alk, the Solstice Lantern W alk, the Handmade Parade, and various art markets, workshops, poetry showcases, and concerts. HAC programs are designed DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E to enhance the lives of residents in the Triangle by offering accessible, meaningful, and diverse connections with art for all demographics. W ith more than 40 volunteers donating thousands of hours annually, HAC is a community of artists, staff, board members, and friends working to ensure the creative future of Hillsborough and Orange County, North Carolina. HAC's Board of Directors is composed of local leaders with varying backgrounds, including business, marketing, and nonprofit professionals; artists, writers, educators, and musicians; retired adults and young professionals. HAC's staff currently includes a full-time Executive Director, a full-time Marketing & Program Director, a full-time Gallery and Volunteer Manager, and a part-time Bookkeeper. Each staff member is uniquely qualified to fulfill best practices in arts administration and operates in collaboration with board members and lead volunteers to ensure proper allocation of resources for each program. Annually, HAC serves over 20,000 visitors through public programs and special events, and over 12,000 visitors through the G&GS. Geographically, 25% of visitors to HAC's G&GS and flagship programs are from Hillsborough, with 75% of visitors recorded from other towns in North Carolina, other US States, and other Countries. Of the 75% of visitors from outside of Hillsborough, 40% are from other towns in Orange County, thus HAC plays a significant role in providing arts programming for both tourists and Orange County residents at large. More robust demographic data has been successfully collected through events with tickets or registration forms, and HAC staff are tracking information to better understand and report about the race, ethnicity, age, and gender composition of those HAC serves. Preliminary analysis suggests that the majority of the participants served through arts programs in Hillsborough identify as being white, with growing representation from participants who identify as BIPOC. W hile collecting and analyzing demographic data is a relatively new process for HAC, the organization’s approach to data management reflects current trends in DEIA and aims to determine which audiences and communities should become a focus area for future relationship building. Through performance contracts and G&GS commissions, HAC has provided over $85,000 in income to local artists this fiscal year. Demand for HAC's services and support is constant and rapidly growing in tandem with the growth of the town and Triangle area. DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E Has your organization undergone any Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training? If so, please explain. If not, please explain any barriers that have prevented you from receiving this training. At the beginning of 2023, HAC applied for the Executive Service Corps of the Triangle’s ARPA Grant which included a board leadership series in addition to capacity building funding. HAC’s Executive Director along with four members of the Board attended the nine workshops in the board leadership series, one of which was focused entirely on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). This particular DEI workshop highlighted ways in which HAC can shift mindset and mission to include DEI-aligned strategies throughout every aspect of organizational operations. Along with this undertaking, HAC launched a DEIA research project led by the Board in early 2023. Phase 1 includes an audit with an external leader that is experienced in this area of work and is expected to wrap up towards the end of this calendar year. Upon analyzing the findings from this research project, HAC will adopt guiding principles to improve representation of and collaboration with the many different individuals, communities, neighborhoods, and artists who make up Hillsborough. Further, HAC participated in the DEIA & the Arts training facilitated by Aisha Adams and hosted by OCAC this summer. The majority of HAC’s core leadership team was able to attend all four sessions live, with any staff and board members unable to attend day-of being asked to review the recordings afterwards. These sessions have helped HAC consider ways to holistically maneuver community outreach strategies and ensure equitable programmatic access for the many unique audiences that HAC aims to serve through its mission. Additionally, these learnings have empowered HAC’s board and staff with tools to authentically engage diverse Board members and volunteers in upcoming recruitment phases. HAC is grateful for the opportunity to access these DEIA tools and training alongside other Orange County arts organizations and welcomes any additional opportunities in the future. Several members of HAC's Board and Staff have undergone DEIA training independently, through other work or service opportunities. HAC is actively strengthening its Board of Directors to include DEIA priorities among every area of strategic focus, and is working to develop clear policies for the organization that will ensure practices, programs, and services are conducted with DEIA in the forefront. During FY22-23, will your organization receive operational support funding from the North Carolina Arts Council or the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources? No Organization's EIN 562163979.0 Organization W ebsite www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E Authorizing Official's Name Mollie Thomas Authorizing Official's Title Executive Director Authorizing Official's Phone 919-643-2500 Authorizing Official's Email director@hillsboroughartscouncil.org Applicant Race W hite Financial Overview FinancialOv erv iew_Submittable.xlsx Organizational Financial Statements HAC_Final_Approv ed_FY23_Budget_Summary.pdf HAC_Draft_FY24_Budget_Summary.pdf HAC_FY21-22_Complete_Income___Expense_Statement.pdf HAC_FY2122_Form_990_Signed.pdf Deficit/Surplus In Fiscal Year 2021-2022, HAC accrued a deficit of $39,754 which reflected timing impacts from overdue grant funds, delayed release of program funds, and strategic investment in professional staff. $10,000 of this deficit were reserve funds from a prior fiscal year, spent in Fiscal Year 2021-2022 in order to implement a public art project in River Park that was delayed due to the pandemic. In addition, HAC expanded employment to better develop programming and organizational sustainability at a cost of roughly $25,000 year on year. Finally, HAC elected to release an incubator program, the River Park Concert, and incurred separation costs from that program’s reserve funds. These three outlays were the primary reason HAC ran a deficit for the fiscal year ending 6/30/22. W hile this deficit was a unique circumstance and was able to be navigated with operating reserves, HAC is committed to preventing future deficits by ramping up fundraising initiatives, generating broad community support, and focusing on mission critical programming. A deficit is not projected for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. The budget provided for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 is a draft and is not yet officially adopted by HAC’s Board of Directors. To ensure flexibility for future growth and in order to navigate any future unforeseen circumstances, HAC is aiming to operate with a modest surplus next fiscal year. If achieved, these funds would be utilized for strategic capacity- building initiatives, as well as reallocating dollars back into HAC’s investment accounts, which were partially depleted in Fiscal Year 2021- 2022 for the reasons described above. The current surplus projection would also require HAC to hit 100% of its Fiscal Year 2023-2024 revenue goals. DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E Are you an entity of UNC-Chapel Hill or another unit of state government? No PROJECT/PROGRAM INFORMATION Tell us about your project or program Title of Grant Request Support for Capital Investment in Operating Technology Grant Amount Requested $8,000 Is the person in charge of this program or project different from the Authorizing Official? No W hat are you requesting funding for? Operational expense (arts organizations ONLY) Request Summary HAC is seeking funding for crucial technology investments in Fiscal Year 2023-2024. HAC has delayed major technology purchases over the past 5 years, in order to maximize use of existing equipment and prioritize other essential operating & programmatic expenditures. Since transitioning the staff model in 2021 from one full-time staff member to three, with strategic plans in place for continued team growth, HAC has been reliant on both the Executive Director and Program & Marketing Director having their own personal computers that they are willing to use for work purposes. W hile there are security measures in place to protect the organization and its sensitive data/assets, a considerable amount of vulnerability with this model of operating remains, particularly related to succession planning. Further, the HAC-owned laptop currently in use by the Gallery & Volunteer Manager is nearing the end of its operational life. HAC must procure devices that are essential for day-to-day operations in order to transition the organization from a state of over-reliance on outdated and outsourced technology, so that all equipment used for HAC business is functional and securely maintained. This also requires improving or upgrading the technology currently in use, including a printer and point-of-sale system that is used for volunteer & artist management, to maximize productivity, collaboration among the team, and effectiveness of mission-critical programs. HAC will repurpose existing technology that still has some life remaining, in order to further expand the capacity of the team and to ensure the most responsible use of resources. Organizational Goals HAC has made major advances over the past few years to professionalize operations, expand leadership, provide increasingly diverse and engaging programming to the community, and become a more sustainable organization through the acquisition of talented staff and board members. DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E HAC strives to continue optimizing its mission through timely investment in administrative needs so that HAC’s most essential services for artists and audiences can continue without interruption for years to come. As a primary provider of free arts programs in Orange County and a flagship organization of Hillsborough’s cultural scene, HAC aims to revamp and upgrade key technological equipment in order to most effectively serve the community. HAC’s short and long-term goals include, but are not limited to: -Improve programmatic offerings by consolidating efforts where sharing resources among programs is feasible and in the best interest of maximizing audience engagement, financial support, and staff/volunteer time and energy. -Collaborate with local organizations, schools, leaders, and community groups to encourage increased participation in the arts across all demographics. -Continually adopt best practices in arts administration, including volunteer recruitment, training, and engagement, as well as fundraising, marketing, and arts education, through professional development opportunities for staff and board members. -Expand opportunities for performing artists from diverse backgrounds to share their work in Hillsborough, including an emphasis on hiring multicultural and emerging artists/groups at major public events. -Increase exposure and awareness of the HAC Gallery & Gift Shop in the Orange County community to sustain high rates of sales and visitation, and to drive additional opportunities for local artists. -Explore additional partnerships and funding sources, while improving efforts of our Sponsorship Program and individual giving Sustainer Program. -Fine-tune strategic marketing plans to raise overall awareness of HAC’s mission and promote Hillsborough as a top destination for arts, culture, and tourism. A capital investment in updated technology will facilitate HAC’s operation goals by: -Providing staff with HAC-owned devices that will securely store organizational data and maintain necessary software updates. This will reduce the burden on dedicated staff so they can continue to support HAC in a professional and effective manner, while ensuring HAC can navigate any future succession needs. -Reducing overall costs related to printing, administrative, and office tasks, by investing in technology that most efficiently offers modern methods of operating. -Improving sales monitoring and volunteer management through an updated point-of-sale system at the G&GS, which will further allow HAC to determine areas for expanded impact for artists. The device that has been in use for the past 6 years will no longer be supported by HAC's merchant services provider this summer and must be replaced. -Reducing barriers of communication and collaboration between staff members, volunteers, board members, and other arts organizations/key community stakeholders. -Ramping up marketing efforts to ensure HAC programs continue to support the unique needs of local artists and further the reach of cultural DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E experiences in Orange County. -Adjusting strategies for thoroughly tracking audience and demographic data, which can be used for internal analysis and for planning, reporting, and fund development. DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E How will you evaluate whether or not your goals have been met? A key component of evaluating HAC’s long and short-term goals is the ability to properly collect and analyze data from G&GS sales, strategic marketing campaigns, donor events, public programs, and other information from partner organizations and businesses. HAC is committed to closely tracking the impact of programming through the G&GS in downtown Hillsborough, as well as soliciting feedback and data from partnering venues and businesses, and requesting demographic and geographic information through event registration processes. By analyzing data collected through its programs, HAC will understand how strategic marketing efforts are helping to increase exposure and impact of the HAC mission. Evidence of this further will come through increased sales and donations, visitation, volunteer engagement, and audience participation. Additionally, social media reach is carefully tracked and is an area of focused growth. Through the ongoing collection of feedback from partner businesses and cultural organizations in Hillsborough, HAC will continue to track the tremendous economic and tourism impact of local arts programs. Another way HAC will collect data and evaluate organizational goals this fiscal year is by producing targeted surveys that will be distributed to audiences in various capacities. A public survey will be utilized to collect general feedback, interest, and needs for future HAC outreach by gathering responses from the community at large. Surveys tailored to event registrants will inform adjustments and planning for specific programs. Lastly, a survey to HAC’s closest supporters, including donors, volunteers, and sponsors, will inform how well HAC is achieving its mission and ensure continued engagement from necessary stakeholders. Internal audits, projects with external consultants, and discussions among HAC leadership will be used to guide thoughtful discussion surrounding the organization's progress towards its strategic goals. All of these data collection and evaluation methods will be facilitated and supported through the requested funding for capital improvements. HAC will be working with an experienced service provider, CMIT Solutions, to upgrade and implement technology investments this summer. These capital expenditures are expected to support the organization for at least another 5-7 years with minimal maintenance required. Once the upgrade is complete, this will be a huge milestone with a clear completion date that will serve as verification that this particular goal has been achieved. Key progress points that will indicate the funding has been spent effectively will include the completion of cleansing old devices of sensitive data, repurposing existing technology where possible in order to expand team and operational capacity, and the implementation of HAC-owned laptops and devices. User experience, efficiency of operations, and established KPIs will be assessed in order to verify the transition to updated, HAC- owned devices is successful and a worthwhile investment. Ongoing evaluation of this capital investment will occur, to ensure that depreciation is recorded appropriately and so that HAC can plan accordingly for any future expenses that may need to be made to keep programs and operations running. How do you promote HAC’s signature events are designed to be accessible, diverse, inclusive, DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E and publicize the work of your organization? and offer something appealing for everyone. Hillsborough is a socio- economically, racially, and culturally diverse community with strong rural agricultural roots, a large population of retired adults, and a growing population of young families and urban professionals. Like many communities in North Carolina, this area has experienced exponential growth over the past decade. HAC’s programming has become essential to Hillsborough’s cultural identity, helping to break barriers and build bridges within the community. HAC marketing efforts take into consideration this unique landscape of audiences and are intended to ensure the organization is a known resource and trusted arts partner within Hillsborough and Orange County. HAC’s current marketing strategies prioritize and leverage organic, non- paid advertising avenues, enabling the organization to stretch its budget for greatest programmatic impact and highest return on investment. HAC’s leadership has fostered authentic relationships with Hillsborough’s business and arts community to ensure broad involvement in year-round programming, and monthly marketing efforts take care to feature content from partnering arts & culture venues on HAC’s highly-visited website and social media pages. For Last Fridays in particular, there has been a significant increase in audience engagement and artist representation by developing a strong marketing platform to showcase the collective efforts of HAC and partnering artists/venues. For the last several fiscal years, HAC has been committed to a highly sustainable approach to marketing and advertising, so that it can continue meeting the increased demand for services while strategically allocating limited financial resources. By extending HAC’s marketing efforts to include more paid channels in the upcoming fiscal year, HAC will be able to re- engage audiences that are not as active on social media or other modern digital platforms, as well as implement a broader reach across the Triangle. HAC currently employs the following strategic marketing and publicity efforts to engage intended audiences: -W ebsite - 26,000+ views/year -Social media (unpaid/organic), including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest - 45,000+ average reach/year -Monthly newsletter - 6,100+ distribution list with a 45% average open rate -Quarterly donor newsletter - 100+ highly engaged distribution list -On-site marketing at events and at the G&GS - 30,000+ visitors/year -Printed signage and flyers distributed across the Triangle -Press packages with high-quality photography, graphics, and announcements sent to extensive list of media outlets, sent at least quarterly -Postings to 20+ community calendars to ensure inclusion & awareness of events -Collaborative cross-promotions with local businesses and community groups -Radio and/or TV advertising as budget allows -Print advertising or features in other cultural publications as budget allows -Paid social media advertising as budget allows, primarily on Facebook & Instagram -Ongoing conversations and meetings with key collaborators to market by DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E word of mouth Please describe efforts by your organization to generate revenue. Over the past two fiscal years, HAC has directed significant attention towards a comprehensive fundraising and donor engagement strategy. Year-round efforts to generate revenue are coordinated through collaboration among staff and the Board of Directors, with the Executive Director and the Development Committee leading key focus areas for charitable giving. Particular emphasis has been placed on maintaining diverse revenue streams, to avoid becoming overly reliant on one source of funding. During this time, HAC has grown revenue from grants & foundations by 90% through securing several new funders. Additionally, individual and sponsorship giving has increased by approximately 30%. Currently, HAC has 75 active monthly or annual donors as part of the organization’s Sustainer Giving Program and has secured an additional $12,000 from one-off donors in support of programs this fiscal year through a "suggested donation" initiative at free/public events. Of particular note, collecting suggested donations through registration for the 2022 Solstice Lantern W alk was a major success, and HAC still managed to keep the program free, inclusive, and accessible for those unable to donate a nominal amount. HAC holds several community fundraising campaigns throughout the year, with major direct appeals in Late Spring and Late Autumn. These efforts can raise up to $5,000 per campaign, but fluctuate depending on other active fundraising strategies. HAC’s Annual Sponsorship Program is designed to direct funds where most needed each year, while offering businesses an opportunity to market themselves in the context of HAC's highly visible programs. In March 2023, HAC hosted its first official fundraising event, Equinox, which served as a kick-off celebration to the Last Fridays & the Art W alk season. This event achieved several goals, including the strategic evolution of a former beloved HAC program, Parlor & Garden Concerts, and raised over $17,000 for HAC’s mission. Each of these major improvements were made possible with the help of HAC’s Program & Marketing Director to expand broad awareness of HAC’s need for support. Other strategies to generate revenue include: -A "round-up" option at the G&GS that offers customers the opportunity to collectively make a difference with just a few cents per transaction. Funds raised from this initiative average $1,200 annually. -Vendors and partnering venues or businesses help off-set program costs through modest participation and application fees. -Participation in workshops is offered at subsidized ticket prices, in order to maintain financial accessibility. -HAC's G&GS is primarily intended to promote and generate steady revenue for local artists, so operating at a profit is not the core aim of this initiative. However, through the consignment partnership arrangement, HAC retains a portion of each sale of artwork in alignment with standard gallery practices, which helps to off-set the costs of operating the G&GS and supports the ongoing improvement of the venue so that artists may continue to flourish. W ith general operating support from the Grassroots Arts Program to DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E ensure HAC can cover necessary capital investments, the Executive Director and Development Committee will be able to build upon the momentum of these efforts and activate additional strategies. Resumes of artists/administrators Mollie_C._Thomas_Comprehensiv e_Resume_June_2023.pdf Iv a_Bev eridge_UPDATED_2023_Resume.pdf Board of Directors List FY22-23_Hillsborough_Arts_Council_Board_List_for_Grants.pdf IRS Tax Exemption IRS_501-c3_Determination_HAC.pdf W ork Samples JenJusW rite_Jennifer_Daniels_Poetry_Host.png Liv ing_Arts_Collectiv e_LastFridays_Dancewav es.png BullCityMusicSchool_Arts_Education_Collaborations.png Monica_Meyer_Photography_DotD_Tommi_Oct_2023_LFAW _Collaboration.jpg Hillsborough_Handmade_Parade_and_Crafts_Festiv al_-_2022_-122.jpg Video Sample: External Link 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DM2Oy4acjj8 Video Sample: External Link 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orHtK7BniRA Video Sample: External Link 3 https://www.instagram.com/reel/CsuyLpZApcW /? utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igshid=MzRlODBiNW FlZA== Letters of support (optional) Gregg_Pacchiana_-_HAC_2023_Letter_of_Support_.pdf Jenn_W eav er_-_HACletterOfSupport_2023.pdf Triangle_Music_Alliance_- _Letter_of_Recommendation_for_Hillsborough_Arts_Council.pdf DocuSign Envelope ID: 62821657-299D-480B-BFAB-4847EAB8AB9E