It is recommended that the City Council authorize the execution of a contract with the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County in the amount of $1,360,000.00 from the General Fund to promote artistic and cultural activities.

During the Fiscal Year 2010 budget process, the City Council approved financial support for the Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County (the Arts Council) in the amount of $1,360,000.00 from the General Fund. This year, rather than making multiple payments to various organizations, we will now partner with the Arts Council to distribute funds to programs. The City will make a single payment of $1,360,000.00. The table below captures the allocation on how these funds are to be distributed for Fiscal Year 2010.

ITEM	AMOUNT
Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County	$900,000.00
Van Cliburn International Piano Competition	$100,000.00
Artes de la Rosa (Rose Marine Theater)	$50,000.00
Imagination Celebration	$50,000.00
Fort Worth Sister Cities	$50,000.00
Operation of Community Arts Center	$200,000.00
World Affairs Council	$10,000.00
TOTAL	$1,360,000.00

These funds will allow the Arts Council to continue to provide financial assistance to non-profit organizations in Fort Worth for projects that enhance the cultural and artistic life of the community. The Arts Council will also use the funds in support of the Neighborhood Arts Program and in grants that support general operating costs of art agencies.

During the development of the Fiscal Year 2010 budget, it was determined that the most appropriate use of DFW Car Rental revenue was for facility improvement costs.  Therefore the adopted budget appropriated $4.3 million in the Culture and Tourism Fund for facilities, including $2.3 million for TPW costs previously identified in the General Fund.  This resulted in General Fund dollars being available and appropriated for the United Way of Tarrant County and the Fort Worth Arts Council for Fiscal Year 2010.
  
The Fiscal Year 2011 funding source for Arts Council will be determined during our Budget Policy sessions.