About GCAC
History
Years before the first official funding agreement with GCAC in 1973, the City of Columbus financially supported the community's three major arts institutions-The Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts (Columbus Museum of Art), the Center of Science & Industry (COSI), and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra-in return for specific public service events. In 1973, City Council recognized that the Columbus arts community extended beyond these three organizations and that the needs of the three institutions extended beyond the small sums allocated.
By contract, City Council set aside funds to be administered in a grants program by GCAC. Properly incorporated, non-profit arts and arts related organizations serving the citizens of Columbus would be eligible for funds, which in 1973 totaled $50,000.
During the first five years of the grants program, 77 grants totaling $270,000 were awarded to 34 different organizations who served the general cultural interests of Columbus citizens. The City's commitment to its major organizations continued with the Gallery, Symphony, and COSI receiving a total of $86,095 in grants. Many worthwhile projects that would also serve the needs of the community did not receive grants simply because there were not enough funds.
In January 1977, Columbus City Council officially recognized the potential of cultural activities "to promote and publicize the City of Columbus as a desirable location for conventions, trade shows, and similar events." Council amended City Code Section 371.02 to allow arts organizations to share with the Greater Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau in revenue from the hotel/motel bed tax. The amendment provided for funds of $125,000 in 1978 and $150,000 in 1979.
While the allocation of hotel/motel tax funds did not alter the terms of the funding partnership between the city and the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the increase in funding made dramatic impact on Columbus arts organizations. In just the first nine months of 1978 alone, 38 grants were awarded to 27 organizations for a total of $114,871.
In 1979, a long-range plan developed and adopted by GCAC trustees articulated in writing for the first time the agency's specific goals in the areas of technical assistance, advocacy, and grants-making. New guidelines clearly delineated the criteria on which funding decisions are based, emphasizing the primary importance placed on the impact of the proposed activity on the City of Columbus. Revised application forms were specifically designed to encourage sound project planning and to give proposal evaluators the opportunity to examine carefully the rationale behind each request. In the context of the arts council as the city's primary arts service provider, the plan defined the mission of the grants program: "To maximize funding for Columbus arts organizations through the responsible administration of a grants-making program...and technical assistance aimed at increasing the level of grantsmanship skills among the GCAC constituency."
In May 1981, Columbus City Council made another commitment to the arts as an investment in the economic development of the city. Ordinance 947.81, passed unanimously, designated for the first time a fixed percentage of hotel-motel tax revenues (20% of a 4% tax) for the support of the arts to be distributed by GCAC and its grants program. The commitment followed years of a successful funding partnership between GCAC and the city that had brought Columbus distinction as a vanguard city in the support of arts development.
During the late eighties and early nineties, the arts community enjoyed steady growth in the number of dollars generated by the tax. But in 1991, the Board of Trustees faced the challenge of granting sharply decreased revenues to more not-for-profit organizations than ever before. By reviewing and modifying grant guideline and application procedures, the Board was able to fairly disperse the reduced dollars that year. The Board reviews grant guidelines and application procedures annually and with careful consideration and revisions, the rules allow fair treatment for arts entities seeking public funds.
Today more than 70 organizations share over $2,000,000 in city support. While this represents less than 5% of operating budgets, it reaffirms continuing bipartisan support for the arts and the role they play in civic development. From Individual Artist Fellowships, to Operating and Project Support for organizations, these city funds provide the financial bedrock from which our community pursues its creative goals.
To learn more about GCAC, view highlights of our history, and read Proud Past, Focused Future, written by Ann Bremner on our 25th anniversary.
