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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-590-E-County Mgr-Hillsborough Arts Council-2025-2026 Arts Grants GRASSROOTS ARTS PROGRAM / ARTIST PROJECT GRANT 2025-26 Grantee Name Authorizing Official Name Email Project Title Award $ Grant Category ☐Grassroots Arts Program ☐Artist Project Grant Program Funding Source ☐North Carolina Arts Council ☐Orange County Grant project period July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026 As Authorizing Official, I acknowledge the following terms and understand if they are not met, I jeopardize future funding opportunities from the Orange County Arts Commission. I understand a Compliance Score is issued for future grants based on my adherence to the following terms: OCAC Report Due July 10, 2026 Multicultural Spending Grantee must spend $ on the hiring of multicultural artists as specified in the grant application. Crediting and logo usage All grantees 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. If funding source is listed as N.C. Arts Council above, grantee must also properly credit the N.C. Arts Council using the proper logos and N.C. Arts Council credit line on all publicity materials for funded program. Download logos on the OCAC website at https://artsorange.org/grants/grantee-resources. Calendar Listing Grantee 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. director@hillsboroughartscouncil.org $4,500.00 Hillsborough Arts Council X Cultural Performances at Hillsborough's Last Fridays & the Art Walk, Live on the Lawn Performance Series Heather Tatreau X Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 1 Revised August 2025 ORANGE COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION 2025-26 GRANT AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT, entered into this 5 day of September, 2025, by and between Orange County ("County"), by and through the Orange County Arts Commission ("Arts Commission") and ("Grant Recipient"). WHEREAS, the Arts Commission is a countywide arts agency that ensures the growth of local arts experiences by providing funding and support for diverse high quality programs and projects. WHEREAS, the Arts Commission administers the annual Grants Program to provide economic opportunities to Orange County artists and non-profit organizations coordinating arts projects benefiting the citizens of Orange County. WHEREAS, the annual Arts Grants Program is supported by Arts Commission with funds from the Grassroots Arts Program of the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, a state agency. WHEREAS, the Grant Recipient was selected by the Arts Commission to receive the annual Arts Grant through the procedures duly adopted by the Arts Commission; and WHEREAS, both parties wish to promote and maintain the integrity and clarity of the Grant Recipient's ideas and statements and delineate the Grant Recipient’s obligations to the County; NOW, THEREFORE, the County and the Grant Recipient, for the consideration and under the conditions hereinafter set forth, agree as follows: 1. Approved Grant Project. Grant funds are provided under this Agreement for the project (“Project”) described in the Grant Recipient’s Grant Application, attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit A. 2. Grant Award. Grant funds in an amount not to exceed ($ ) 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 $4,500.00four thousand five hundred dollars Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 2 Revised August 2025 A. Implementation. The Project implementation shall take place between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. 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 10, 2026. 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 $4,500.00 Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 3 Revised August 2025 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. X Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 4 Revised August 2025 (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: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 5 Revised August 2025 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 Travis Myren, County Manager Date Heather Tatreau, Executive Director Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 9/17/2025 9/26/2025 ORANGE COUNTY—INTERNAL USE ONLY Revised 01/24 1 Finance Information Vendor Name: Vendor Contact Person: Phone: Address: City: State: NC Zip: Department: County Manager’s Office/Arts Commission Amount: Purpose: 2025-2026 Arts Grants Budget Code(s): 37290050-630000 Vendor # Vendor Status with NCSOS: Vendor is a BOCC consultant: Yes No Contract Details Contract Type: X New Amendment (Original Contract: ) (Most Recent Amendment ) Effective Date End Date Notice Date (Notice Purpose ) Award Approved by Board (Agenda Date: ); Made or Administered by Signature Authority - BOCC Express Delegation (Agenda Date: ) - Policy 9.4: Under $5,000; Service Under $90,000; Construction Under $250,000 - Budget Policy Section XV (Capital Improvement Project: ) Bidding Informal Bidding ($30k-$90k); Formal RFP ($90k+); Other (<$30k); Exception (# ) Department Affirmation This agreement is approved as to technical form and content and I as Department Director affirmatively state work on this pro ject has not been initiated prior to execution of the agreement. This agreement is approved as to technical form and content . Services related to this agreement have already begun or been completed. Description of the nature of the emergency condition that was addressed: Department Director’s Signature Date: Heather Tatreau $4,500 27278 19946 (919) 593-4295 Hillsborough Arts Council 102 N Churton St HILLSBOROUGH Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 9/17/2025 ORANGE COUNTY—INTERNAL USE ONLY Revised 01/24 2 Information Technologies This agreement has been reviewed and is approved as to information technology content and specifications: Office of the Chief Information Officer Date: Inapplicable because no hardware/software purchases or related services 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 All DocuSign contracts must be copied to the Clerk upon completion: occlerkdocs@orangecountync.gov The following signature block is for hard copies only and is not required for DocuSign contracts: Received for record retention: Office of the Clerk to the Board Date: Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 9/19/2025 9/22/2025 9/25/2025 Orange County Arts Commission Powered by Submittable Title Hi l l sborough Arts Counci l by Heather Tatreau in 2025-26 Grassroots Arts Project Application 102 N. Churton St. Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278 NC United States 919-593-4295 director@hillsboroughartscouncil.org 06/30/2025 id. 50948383 Original Submission 06/30/2025 Score n/a APPLICANT INFORMATION Please tell us about your organization. Organization Name Hillsborough Arts Council DBA Is the Applicant Organization serving as a fiscal agent for an unincorporated group? No Mailing Address of Organization 102 N Churton St HILLSBOROUGH NC 27278-2534 US 36.0756102 -79.099309 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? No Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 Nature of Organization Arts Organization Organization Description The Hillsborough Arts Council (HAC) is a community-building nonprofit arts organization that has been serving Hillsborough, NC for 36 years. HAC’s mission is to advocate for local artists and provide access to inclusive community arts programming for educational engagement, community development, and economic prosperity. Located in historic downtown Hillsborough, HAC’s headquarters known as the Gallery & Gift Shop (G&GS) provides a creative environment for 60+ 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. W e also administer the Hillsborough Poet Laureate program on behalf of the town. HAC programs are designed 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 270 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 3 full-time staff members: an Executive Director, a Program & Marketing Director, and a Gallery & Volunteer Manager. W e also employ 2 part-time staff: a Bookkeeper and an Events Manager. Each staff member is uniquely qualified to fulfill best practices in arts administration and operates in collaboration with board members, interns, 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 13,500 visitors through the G&GS. Geographically, 56% of visitors to HAC's G&GS and flagship programs are from Orange County. HAC plays a significant role in providing arts programming for both Orange County residents and tourists. Robust demographic data has been successfully collected through events with tickets or registration forms, tracking information to better understand and report about the race, ethnicity, age, and gender composition of those HAC serves. Events are designed to engage participants of all ages and encourage families to attend together: one quarter of attendees are under age 18, one quarter are over age 60, and one half are aged 18-59. The majority of the participants served through arts programs in Hillsborough identify as being white, with growing representation from participants who identify as BIPOC. 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. Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 Through performance contracts and G&GS commissions, HAC has provided over $75,000 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. How many Orange County residents does the organization serve? 17,000 Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 Please explain how your organization ensures diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in its programs and operations. HAC actively works to embed DEIA principles into every aspect of decision making. Our organization’s mission is, “To advocate for local artists and provide access to inclusive community arts programming in Hillsborough, NC.” In 2023, the Board of Directors made the commitment to invest time and resources in DEIA training. The core leadership team, including board members and staff, have participated in multiple training sessions with the Executive Service Corps and Aisha Adams. These workshops highlighted ways in which HAC could shift its mission to include DEIA-aligned strategies throughout every aspect of organizational operations. One outcome of these training sessions was a DEIA research project led by the Board. After an audit with an external leader that was experienced in this area of work, the findings were analyzed and recommendations were made. HAC then began to implement these guiding principles, with the goal of improving representation of and collaboration with the many different individuals, communities, neighborhoods, and artists who make up Hillsborough. W e are also fortunate to have a board member, Arisa Sullivan, who is experienced in leading DEIA trainings for corporations. She oversees our DEIA Initiative, guiding staff and board members through the process of making our commitment tangible. She is also leading the charge to ensure we hire diverse staff members and recruit diverse board members so all of our community has representation. It has always been our mission to provide economically accessible arts programming through large scale free community events. W ith support from HAC’s executive leadership, staff members are empowered to make programmatic decisions informed by the organization’s commitment to DEIA best practices. This year, we made digital accessibility improvements to our website and added an accessibility statement: “Hillsborough Arts Council is committed to enriching our local community through providing access to the arts. Our events intend to engage diverse audiences, supporting a creative space for all ages and disciplines. To fulfil this promise, HAC is actively expanding event programming accessibility for those with disabilities, including but not limited to wheelchair users. W e are also making accessibility improvements to our website. This website has been designed to reduce content barriers for visitors with visual and physical impairments.” Another way in which HAC’s programming choices reflect our commitment to DEIA is prioritizing culturally diverse artists when hiring event performers. In particular, we have an opportunity to bring a diverse representation of music to the Live on the Lawn series during our Last Friday events in May-October. DEIA trainings completed by HAC leadership has empowered staff with tools to authentically engage diverse artists. As a result, we have been able to book a wide variety of artists, showcasing everything from African drumming to Southern folk music to mariachi bands. This season, our program themes lean into cultural representation more than ever. Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 During FY25-26, will your organization receive operational support funding from the North Carolina Arts Council or the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources? Yes A note about state funding Organizations receiving funding from the NCAC or DNCR are generally not eligible to also receive funding through the Grassroots program. If you are funded through either entity for the FY26 year, please reach out to Katie Murray (kmurray@orangecountync.gov) for guidance. Organization's EIN 562163979 Organization W ebsite www.hillsboroughartscouncil.org Authorizing Official's Name Heather Tatreau Authorizing Official's Title Executive Director Authorizing Official's Phone 919-593-4295 Authorizing Official's Email director@hillsboroughartscouncil.org Applicant Race W hite Financial Overview FinancialOv erv iew_Submittable.xlsx Organizational Financial Statements HAC_FY24_PL.pdf HAC_FY25_PL.pdf HAC_FY26_Budget_Summary.pdf HAC_stmt_of_fin_position_5.25.pdf Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 Deficit/Surplus W e are holding steady with our budget and breaking even each year. Our projected FY25 income and expenses in the table above reflect a re- forecasting, including what is predicted in June, our last month of the FY25. W e have a successful EOFY fundraising campaign going on right now to close the gap and meet our budget needs. This is why the numbers will not match the uploaded Profit and Loss statement for FY25, which only goes through May's actuals. If the current or next year budget represents a 30% change (or greater) from the year prior, please explain why. 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 Cultural Performances at Hillsborough's Last Fridays & the Art W alk, Live on the Lawn Performance Series Grant Amount Requested $5,000 Is the person in charge of this program or project different from the Authorizing Official? No W hat are you requesting funding for? A specific program or project Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 Project/Program Summary Last Fridays & the Art W alk has come to define the culture of downtown Hillsborough as a hub for the arts. The Hillsborough Arts Council organizes this year round, monthly event by promoting gallery openings, musical performances, and other happenings around downtown and in W est Hillsborough on the last Friday of each month. During the months of May through October, HAC also provides a full offering of free activities on the old courthouse lawn: a Maker’s Market with 25+ art vendors and community booths, 3 hours of performances in a new Live on the Lawn Performance series, and interactive community art projects. These events attract 1,000-3,000 visitors to downtown Hillsborough each month, which has a positive impact on our local business community, encouraging tourists as well as locals to shop and eat downtown. The Live on the Lawn Performance Series is designed to offer opportunities to multiple artists each month and provide the audience with free, culturally significant programming. By listening to community members who attend Last Fridays, we have determined that live entertainment is one of the biggest draws to our events. This new series allows us to offer a 3 hour lineup every month that audiences can count on. W e will hire acts in a variety of genres such as comedy, music, drum circles, poetry and spoken word, dance, puppetry, and even a fashion show. Project Start Date (no earlier than July 1, 2025) July 1, 2025 Project End Date (no later than June 30, 2026) June 30, 2026 Project Goals The Live on the Lawn Performance Series is aligned with the mission of HAC to advocate for local artists and provide access to inclusive community arts programming in Hillsborough, NC. The overall goal of this project is to attract a diverse audience to the event each month while providing a greater number of multicultural artists with paid opportunities. Hiring multicultural artists creates a vibrant arts experience and improves representation and voice of our community. This also fosters appreciation for members of our community that bring a different cultural perspective than one’s own. HAC Last Friday events have always contained a performance element. However, when Covid imposed distancing rules, the days of community members gathering to listen to music was temporarily over. W e have been gradually building back up to full performance programming over the past few years. The launch of the 2025 Live on the Lawn Performance Series reflects HAC’s ability to have the capacity again for more robust programming. W e are committed to 3 hours of free entertainment on the lawn in May-October where diverse community members can gather once again to participate in a shared art experience. Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 Audience Description All HAC events and programs are designed to be accessible, inclusive, 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. HAC marketing efforts take into consideration this unique landscape and aim to reach audiences that are a reflection of the community HAC serves, while attracting a broader group of participants from across Orange County and beyond. Last Fridays & The Art W alk, one of our flagship programs, consistently draws 1,000-3,000 visitors each month to this town-wide event. As we have increased the number of BIPOC artists we hire for performances, we see a more racially diverse audience. Particularly with our musical artists and Roaming Poets series last season, we saw younger and more racially inclusive crowds. By presenting a variety of music genres in the Live on the Lawn series, our goal is to attract multigenerational and multicultural audiences, uniting people across societal barriers. This commitment in programming will allow us to continue to build an audience that reflects our commitment to DEIA principles. Location Description The Live on the Lawn Performance Series takes place on the old courthouse lawn in the heart of downtown Hillsborough. The downtown area offers multiple parking options, including handicapped spots, and is accessible by Orange County public transit. Sidewalks are well-maintained for anyone joining activities by foot, wheelchair, bicycle, or other methods of transportation. Hillsborough Arts Council is committed to adopting best practices with accessibility whenever possible and aims to include anyone that may be differently abled in any capacity. Our staff and volunteers are on site to ensure that accommodations are made for our participants and offer logistical support in meeting these needs. HAC has adopted an Accessibility Plan and designated an Accessibility Officer to oversee needs and progress in this area. The board-level Accessibility Committee is led by Laura Juel, a board member with professional experience as an Occupational Therapist. She is in the process of conducting an audit of our outdoor performance space and will make recommendations on how to improve accessibility. HAC’s Program & Marketing Director has begun a digital accessibility project, by making HAC’s website and marketing materials more accessible for anyone with visual impairments or other difficulties. W e have also started to provide more dual language materials for our growing population of Spanish speaking residents and are partnering with Snow Approach Foundation to include participants dealing with brain changes, such as dementia, at our community events. Artist Description W e connect with artists in a variety of ways. Over the past few years, our Program & Marketing Director has developed relationships with local musicians, puppeteers, comics, and spoken word artists. W hen our new Executive Director joined the team, she brought a wider network of artists to HAC. This year, we also are fortunate to have two BIPOC lead volunteers take on the responsibility of building an even wider network as Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 they secure contracts with performers for the 2025 Live on the Lawn Series. Additionally, we have an open call for performers on our website that allows artists to fill out a form and tell us more about what they do. W e provide a welcoming statement aimed at being inclusive and offering opportunities to everyone: “Our goal is to showcase a vibrant mix of performances and arts education at our community events, including but not limited to live music, poetry, puppetry, dance performances, community workshops, readings, comedy, and more.” Each of our artists for the upcoming Live on the Lawn Series was discovered through one of the previously stated methods of discovery. Each was hired because of their demonstrated excellence as performers and their unique contribution to the overall variety of programming for the season. These performers include: The Magic of African Rhythm - Their focus on W est African instruments provides a new genre of music for this series and provides cultural diversity. Amal Kasir - She is the Hillsborough Poet Laureate and will make regular appearances at Live on the Lawn to perform spoken word poetry and engage community participation in poetry activities. 1,2,3 Puppetry (led by Sol Ramirez) - This is a long standing HAC collaborator and is deeply involved with another HAC signature event, the Handmade Parade. Programming appeals to youth and families. Shalimar Dancer - Kimberly Caswell provides a participatory dance experience that is inviting to all ages and backgrounds. Living Arts Collective - This long standing HAC collaborator has a loyal following of families and BIPOC community members. They host participatory drum circles and dance waves. Previously, they have been located in River Park during Last Friday. This season, we plan to move them to the Live on the Lawn series at the courthouse for greater visibility and integration with the overall event. The Shoal Diggers - This band has an excellent reputation in the local music scene and appeals to an older generation of Hillsborough residents. Leia Sadiku - Leia is an emerging singer-songwriter whose music appeals to a younger audience. Monica Meyer - Monica’s performance art appeals to a growing Latino community in Hillsborough and fits with the Day of the Dead cultural theme for October. Triangle Taiko Club - Japanese drumming is a new genre of music for this series and provides cultural diversity. Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 Are you hiring multicultural artists with the requested funds from this grant? Yes For each multicultural artist you intend to hire, please list their name, race, and how much you plan to pay them. The Magic of African Rhythm; director Teli Shabu - African and African American group members ($1,200) Amal Kasir - Syrian-American ($3,000 yearly stipend as Poet Laureate; funds provided by the Town) 1,2,3 Puppetry; director Sol Ramirez - Latino ($600) Living Arts Collective - African, African American, and Latino artists ($3,000) Leia Sadiku - Asian American ($175) Monica Meyer - Latino ($200) Triangle Taiko Club - Asian and Asian American ($100) How will the project/program be publicized and promoted to reach intended participants? The following free and paid strategic marketing and publicity efforts are used to engage audiences locally and throughout Orange County and the Triangle: W ebsite: 26,800 views/year Social media (unpaid/organic), including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest: 100,000 views/year Monthly e-newsletter: 6,100 distribution list with a 45% average open rate Quarterly donor e-newsletter: 100+ highly engaged distribution list On-site marketing at the info tent on the lawn and at the G&GS: 30,000+ visitors/year Trifold Last Friday event map with QR code to updated website itinerary each month distributed in town and throughout Orange County Monthly Last Friday one-pager itinerary posted at Art W alk venues Press packages with high-quality photography, graphics, and announcements sent to extensive list of media outlets Postings to 20+ community calendars to ensure inclusion and awareness of event Collaborative cross-promotions with local businesses and community groups Special video marketing campaigns, including Instagram Reels, TikTok posts, and Youtube shorts Documentary style promotional assets created with PBS and Ethereal Films LLC Regular radio spots on W UNC and interviews on W HUP Print advertising or features in other publications as budget allows Newspaper interviews/articles with News of Orange, Indy W eek, Daily Tar Heel, Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce, and others Paid social media advertising as budget allows, primarily on Facebook and Instagram Ongoing conversations and meetings with key collaborators to market by word of mouth Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 How will you evaluate the success of the program? HAC closely tracks the impact of our programming in real-time by collecting visitation counts at events, soliciting feedback and data from partnering organizations, and requesting demographic and geographic information at our info tent. W e are also exploring ways to solicit donations for these free performances to support our overhead expenses. This quantitative and qualitative data will tell us if we have met our goals for the Live on the Lawn Performance Series program. A successful program will be reflected in: Month over month growth in visitation numbers. Positive feedback from audience members. Increased donations during the events. Expanded racial and geographic representation of attendees at these monthly events. Positive feedback from the artists booked for these events. PROJECT/PROGRAM BUDGET Please fill out the charts below with your project's expenses and income. Use the "Explanation" box to offer details for each category. NOTE: The Total Cash Expense must equal the Total Cash Income. Click here to view a sample budget. Project Expense Expenses-english-rev ised.xlsx Project Income Income-english-rev ised.xlsx Resumes of artists/administrators 2025_Resume_Iv ana_Bev eridge_1.pdf Sol_Ramirez_-_2025_Resume_6-23-25.pdf Teli_Shabu_Resume_2025.pdf Board of Directors List 2025_Board_Members.pdf IRS Tax Exemption 501-c3_Determination_-_HAC.pdf W ork Samples 123_Puppetry_July_2024_LFAW .MOV Title of work The Sun Artist's name 1,2,3 Puppetry with Sol Ramirez Year created July 2024; performed at HAC Last Friday Medium (if applicable) puppetry Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7 Magic_of_African_Rhythm.MOV Title of work Djembe Fire! Born to Play Artist's name The Magic of African Rhythm, directed by Teli Shabu Year created 2023 Medium (if applicable) W est African music and dance LAC_drum_circle_2023.MOV Title of work participatory drum circle in River Park at Last Friday in Hillsborough Artist's name Living Arts Collective Year created 2023 Medium (if applicable) drumming Shalimar_witch_flash_mob.MOV Title of work W itch Flash Mop Artist's name Shalimar Dancer Year created October 2024 at Last Friday Medium (if applicable) participatory dance Video Sample: External Link 1 Video Sample: External Link 2 Video Sample: External Link 3 Letters of support (optional) LAC_letter_of_support.pdf Logo and tagline usage checked Unallowable Expenses checked Multicultural Expenses checked Docusign Envelope ID: 10E85B85-3DF9-4F09-88B4-92BB780493B7