This page will be regularly updated with new resources and references as needed.
FAQs
What is an arts council?
1
An arts council is a local arts agency. According to Americans for the Arts, “The nation’s thousands of Local Arts Agencies (LAAs), councils, and commissions promote, support, and develop the arts at the municipal or county level, ensuring a vital presence for the arts in communities across the United States. Each LAA is uniquely tailored to its community, evolving to meet local needs and making the arts accessible to all. Though no two LAAs are identical in mission or programming, they all work toward sustaining the health and vitality of the arts and enriching the lives of their constituents. Local Arts Agencies (LAAs) play an essential role in fostering vibrant and inclusive communities. They champion a wide range of artistic expression, ensuring that the arts and culture are accessible to everyone and enriching public life in social, cultural, educational, and economic ways.”
Do we already have an arts council?
2
Piedmont Council for the Arts (PCA) was a vibrant regional arts advocacy hub from 1979-2017 that provided a home for collaboration, networking, and support for artists and arts organizations in Charlottesville and Albemarle.
Do we have a comprehensive plan for art?
3
The 2013 Create Cville: Charlottesville/Albemarle Cultural Plan is the last time a regional vision for arts and culture priorities was formalized.
Do we know the economic impact of the arts in Charlottesville?
4
Our region was left out of the most recent national American for the Arts’ Arts & Economic Prosperity Study 6, research usually led by a local art agency to determine how many dollars are generated from every $1 spent on arts and culture in our region. PCA last led this research for our region in 2015, producing Arts & Economic Prosperity Study 5: The Economic Impact of Nonprofit Arts and Cultural Organizations and Their Audiences in the Greater Charlottesville Area.
What is Percent for the Arts, and does it still exist?
5
Percent for Art background (from the City of Charlottesville website): “Between the Fiscal Years of 1999 and 2005 the City had a policy of transferring 1% of the project budget of any new facility or major renovation, to the Percent for Art CIP account. This account was used to provide for any public art deemed necessary by City Council and/or the City Manager, such as the Art in Place contract. As part of the FY 2006 CIP, funding for this project was eliminated, due in part to the large fund balance in the project ($246,969 as of the beginning of FY2006) and the lack of identified projects for which to use the funds.”
The consultant conducted peer city benchmarking, compared funding and operational models across the country, and examined local arts agency structures, roles, and scale. This high-level financial and operational context from selected peer cities was used to inform scope and phasing considerations. These cities include Winston-Salem, NC; Iowa City, IA; Boulder, CO; Corvallis, OR; and Ann Arbor, MI.
What comparable cities were identified, and what kind of local arts agencies do they have?
6
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1. Structural Home & Staffing
Municipal Office of Arts & Culture housed within the City of Boulder’s Community Vitality Department.
Approximately 8 professional staff listed, covering grants, public art, artist and venue support, communications, and program management.
2. Funding Source & Scale
Funded through a voter-approved Arts, Culture, and Heritage tax.
Revenue is allocated annually through the city budget.
Recent city budgets indicate:
~$1.4–$1.5M annually in cultural grants.
~$600–$700k for salaries and administration.
Total arts-related funding often exceeding $3M annually.
3. Core Programmatic & Grant Offerings
Cultural Grants Program (operating and project support).
Public Art Program (commissions, collections, maintenance).
Artist and venue support initiatives.
Creative economy research and workforce data tracking.
Advisory oversight via the Boulder Arts Commission.
Boulder Office of Arts & Culture
Boulder Public Art Program
Boulder Creative Economy Data (Boulder Economic Council) -
A) Ann Arbor Public Art Commission (Municipal)
1. Structural Home & Staffing
10-member volunteer commission.
Supported by one primary city staff liaison.
2. Funding Source & Scale
Funded through a Percent-for-Art ordinance tied to city capital improvement projects.
No independent annual operating budget.
3. Core Programmatic Role
Oversight, selection, and stewardship of public art tied to capital projects.
Artist calls and commissions limited to public art.
B) Ann Arbor Art Center (A2AC) — Nonprofit Arts Hub
1. Structural Home & Staffing
Independent nonprofit arts organization.
Approximately 8–10 professional staff, including leadership, exhibitions, education, public art, development, and operations.
2. Funding Source & Scale
Mixed nonprofit revenue model:
Earned revenue (classes, shop sales, programs).
Private philanthropy and memberships.
Foundation grants.
Annual operating scale historically around $1.1–$1.2M.
3. Core Programmatic & Grant Offerings
Year-round visual arts exhibitions.
Extensive arts education (classes, workshops, camps).
Art in Public program delivering public art projects in partnership with civic entities.
Artist support through exhibitions, installations, teaching opportunities, and sales platforms.
How this functions as an arts-council analog: While not a governmental arts council, A2AC acts as a de facto arts hub, delivering artist support, public art programming, and community engagement at scale.
Ann Arbor Public Art Commission
The Ann Arbor Art Center
Ann Arbor Art Fair -
1. Structural Home & Staffing
Independent nonprofit arts council.
Approximately 10 professional staff, including leadership, grants administration, programming, marketing, development, and facilities.
2. Funding Source & Scale
Hybrid funding model:
City and county appropriations.
Private philanthropy and foundations.
Earned revenue (venues, ticketing).
State and federal arts funding.
Recent financials show ~$5.5M annual revenue.
3. Core Programmatic & Grant Offerings
Multiple grant lines (operating support, artist grants, community and equity-focused grants).
Regranting of public funds.
Artist services, convenings, and sector leadership.
Facilities management and presenting.
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1. Structural Home & Staffing
Arts and cultural support embedded within city government.
No standalone arts council or nonprofit intermediary.
2. Funding Source & Scale
City general fund allocations.
Small, targeted grant tools rather than large operating budgets.
3. Core Programmatic & Grant Offerings
Public Art Matching Grant Program (up to $4,000 with 50% match).
Cultural programming tied to UNESCO City of Literature designation.
Literary residencies, readings, and public storytelling through partnerships.
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1. Structural Home & Staffing
Independent nonprofit visual arts center.
Approximately 7–8 core staff, supported by part-time instructors and volunteers.
2. Funding Source & Scale
Mixed nonprofit funding:
Donations and memberships.
Foundation grants.
Class and workshop fees.
Annual operating budget approximately $700,000.
3. Core Programmatic & Grant Offerings
Contemporary art exhibitions.
Arts education for youth and adults.
Community engagement and access programs.
Artist opportunities through exhibitions, teaching, and community projects.
No public regranting authority.
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1. Structural Home & Staffing
No centralized arts council or municipal arts office.
Arts support is distributed across nonprofits, university programs, festivals, and planning efforts.
No dedicated city or county staff whose sole responsibility is arts grantmaking or cultural coordination.
2. Funding Source & Scale
No dedicated public revenue stream for arts coordination.
Funding flows through:
Individual nonprofit fundraising (earned revenue + philanthropy).
University funding (UVA Arts Council, museums, presenting).
Project-based or planning-related city/county investments.
3. Core Programmatic & Support Functions
Program delivery through nonprofits
University-based funding, presenting, and collaboration.
Cultural infrastructure addressed through the Charlottesville/Albemarle Cultural Plan.
Permanent public art remains visible through Art in Place and historic mural works, though no active public art commissioning program is currently operating.