[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5973915,"mediaKeyId","5829988-e7390f6daa08bbf9f7d5c05df651a813","parentId",5829988,"title","Boulder Arts Commission advances grants overhaul: new 'bedrock' operating support, multi‑year awards and clearer equity points","audioSeconds",2419,"startMs",6500000,"endMs",8919000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5829988-e7390f6daa08bbf9f7d5c05df651a813&start=6500&end=8919","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5829988-e7390f6daa08bbf9f7d5c05df651a813/thumbnail_6500000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5973915/Boulder/Boulder-County/Colorado/Boulder-Arts-Commission-advances-grants-overhaul-new-bedrock-operating-support-multiyear-awards-and-clearer-equity-points","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973915-0375502c9424f69a714ce7daf7353a32/orig.mp4?Expires=1770990873&Signature=ijJ8f5Wbmgl6OFsxWYjUodwF8CHP~hOl5e9qWb2f1J42mi~SOrdpBS6F6ZS3zT08LuOlORN5t5US2TpWv2eaeHzs61c3TGNp7GauVaTroe9FmWIwoRKgtS0pVGAaQn~bjmlr0~IP2VR24kM-CDyz2jdZvU-lq0hPQxyJ5Kiv6bKbRmct3EcR84c9vIMpyvr~z9RVA7J35DqMnwWxP4nyC1WfZh9wLcxY8Ma-brIM5VdH6Rxig6Lg0IAxQFOnejmxuN4y2V2rU2xU~GW7tuLGP5wHxRJ7xHE1SMIq8nbDtpmQ2YvsXfnxY2GfwmonDK8aQ4furHLa13bcDAWyF7F84g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Boulder City, CO","date","2025-09-25T22:50:11.303Z","article","Staff for the Boulder Arts Commission presented a package of proposed changes to the arts grants program on Sept. 24 that would add a new “bedrock” operating‑support category, increase the number of vision project grants, clarify scoring for equity encouragement points, and create a rubric for multi‑year awards tied to score thresholds.

“Bedrock organizations would have to answer five questions in addition to the normal general operating support application related to community impact,” said Sarah (grants staff), describing the intent to prioritize deeply rooted organizations that provide ongoing services. The five suggested additional prompts would ask organizations to describe recent collaborations, past and planned disability‑access improvements, sustainability work, an example showing organizational resilience when existence was at stake, and outreach to new audiences or communities.

How awards would work: staff proposed awarding multi‑year operating support based on panel score and recommendation. In the suggested approach, organizations in the top third of recommended awardees would receive three years of funding, the middle third two years and the lower third one year; staff also noted panels could use score thresholds rather than strict thirds so available dollars could be reallocated where helpful.

Other proposed changes and clarifications:
- Boulder Vision grants: staff proposed increasing the number of small project awards to create more opportunities for local artists to participate in public projects and experiments, and confirmed organizations can apply for both Vision project grants and public‑art experiments where eligible.
- Eligibility and Boulder‑based definition: staff reiterated that general operating support requires organizations to be Boulder‑based (address/headquarters in the city or demonstrable primary programming benefiting Boulder residents) and that project grants require the program to take place in Boulder. The team said they will clarify this language to reduce recurring confusion.
- Encouragement points: staff proposed keeping encouragement points but clarifying criteria so applicants understand who qualifies; current questions include first‑time applicant status, whether English is not the applicant’s strongest writing language and whether programming is led by BIPOC artists. Commissioners suggested broadening the language to reference federally recognized “underserved populations” and to ensure culturally diverse art forms are recognized.
- Accessibility and capital: staff clarified that while the grants program is primarily for operations and projects, one‑time capital or accessibility investments could be an allowable use of operating support in certain cases to enable an organization to meet accessibility standards.

Panelists and commissioners raised operational points about scoring, thresholds and the rubric. Staff recommended using score thresholds to decide tiers and noted that bedrock applicants would submit additional information and later report on at least two of the five focus areas. Staff also described outreach and next steps: a copy editor and Spanish translation of grants materials, community info sessions and a large cultural summit planned for Dec. 5 to introduce the 2026 funding opportunities.

Action on a single grant report: the commission approved a staff recommendation to accept the grant report for a project listed as \"Harmony of 1 Beat, 1 Spirit\" (applicant name in packet).

Ending: Staff said the revised grant materials and final guidance will come back to the commission for approval at the October retreat and that a public launch and outreach will follow.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","9-24-25 Boulder Arts Commission Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Commission staff outlined proposed revisions to the arts grants program on Sept. 24 including a new 'bedrock' operating support category with extra application questions, a tiered multi‑year funding approach tied to score thresholds, expanded Boulder Vision project grants, and clearer scoring for encouragement points to promote equity.","taxTitle","Boulder, Boulder County, Colorado","taxId",3386,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5973920,"Boulder Arts Commission recommends council adopt 2026 arts budget, urges review of administrative funding",4918,1569000,6487000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5829988-e7390f6daa08bbf9f7d5c05df651a813&start=1569&end=6487","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5829988-e7390f6daa08bbf9f7d5c05df651a813/thumbnail_1569000.jpg","/articles/5973920/Boulder/Boulder-County/Colorado/Boulder-Arts-Commission-recommends-council-adopt-2026-arts-budget-urges-review-of-administrative-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973920-62239b85ec34a722988ea9a56bddefc8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770990873&Signature=CuRMDc~ZFGivVSsPjFYAEzNsHkZ41GAuHrUeTtMolC9mtxoqj8yyMAFv~D6x6~liCkEpjLwP0dO0kUZiOJkyzdOUMs8Ksy9oxs6tPO8x56hp5nwydu-YBSyj1MfmEorQkTEiuYqX817ZX2odI9kfm8fxqq8hbAsZVcDKJgpKeds8iUnqSnZ6vtUPuq-cN7yh0pNQoPw5G3iCUtQ~Y0f5BJk1cH~t3QL-0zJBsXEDkdHvg-9WUxrImfqv0adc~AfdDCq8J3NYF-iJUx06-OGxLPnzbs4-OnD6CMPzennVIsWdoANoJV3K0dN2X8rSpfluI8236BR01LDcXogQAEKZ0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Boulder Arts Commission voted on Sept. 24 to recommend that City Council adopt the City Manager’s 2026 recommended budget for the Arts, Culture & Heritage Fund, while asking council to revisit whether general‑fund support should resume for administrative salaries and benefits.

Elliot (staff presenter) walked commissioners through the proposed budget, which separates personnel (salaries and benefits) and non‑personnel (grants, public art programming and operations) costs and reflects the newly dedicated sales‑tax funding stream. He highlighted a citywide budget policy requirement — “Section 7 requires every fund to have a reserve” — that sets a 16.7% target (about two months of operating costs) to stabilize each fund.

Key budget points presented by staff:
- Beginning fund balance for 2026 is projected at about $488,000; the model shows an estimated ending fund balance after reserves of roughly $291,000 for 2026 (staff said the ending balance is available for appropriation by council if they choose).
- Cost allocations reimburse the general fund for central services (city attorney, IT, communications); cost allocations rise as the arts fund grows. Staff said the 2025 cost allocation reflected the smaller 2024 budget, which is why it increases in 2026.
- The Community Culture, Resiliency and Safety (CCRS) capital program contributes 1% of eligible capital projects for public art; staff noted downtown improvement districts are exempt from that 1% rule but the arts office can still seek art in those projects.
- The proposed public art appropriation includes maintenance dollars; staff said maintenance is budgeted but not intended to fund large, expanded maintenance every year.

Commissioners sought clarifications about reserves, maintenance, transfers and how an ending fund balance could be used. Staff said the ending fund balance (after reserves) can be programmed into grants or other programs but requires council appropriation. Staff also cautioned that out‑year projections assume modest inflationary increases and that the city’s broader revenue situation makes long‑range projections conservative.

Before the meeting adjourned on budget business, the commission approved a motion recommending council adopt the City Manager’s 2026 recommended budget and added language reminding council that arts and culture nonprofits generate substantial economic activity and asking council to revisit funding administrative costs from the general fund. The motion passed; the meeting record shows one commissioner opposed.

Ending: Staff said the commission’s motion and feedback will be included in materials to City Council during the budget adoption process; staff and arts staff encouraged commissioners to continue engagement with council members and to provide written comments if they wish.","On Sept. 24 the commission voted to recommend City Council adopt the City Manager’s 2026 recommended Arts, Culture & Heritage Fund budget while urging council to revisit using the general fund for administrative costs; staff presented revenue, reserve and allocation details and answered questions about maintenance and fund balance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5973925,"Boulder planners ask Arts Commission for input as comprehensive‑plan update refocuses land use",2440,774000,3214000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5829988-e7390f6daa08bbf9f7d5c05df651a813&start=774&end=3214","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5829988-e7390f6daa08bbf9f7d5c05df651a813/thumbnail_774000.jpg","/articles/5973925/Boulder/Boulder-County/Colorado/Boulder-planners-ask-Arts-Commission-for-input-as-comprehensiveplan-update-refocuses-land-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5973925-dcf57808f557a2380492ecd22668b85d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770990873&Signature=FKQetLT5MEnS1~4-wVerCAj6gkOLEvxaeJb4Y-bEtsNr~Xz245S2JIVbWF~LbpORfh35UG70upv948bl09eHdBXYBB10D0TfH8HtJJxBGSTLaMHQV1oHmXh0kaUP52UW~FOHZZorcIJceDvyQjKfEyeRKY6~MjrTs7YsZc-pW-z3hE0of5X6hP5Hk5W3Aqj4dZOMqwZ-sVY2Mv0EpKbj3e9oR2bBJRWOSxzscuxAZNLZsZ72jIqSeNUmDWQ7KHT8L~eD-9kVy6vstDp85~3udN8P6j1N-z1sKYViGScyhOs~sMXpG0gx4tgTyTdzXyGvccC3YvC2gA~NtlbNx7oiWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City planning staff presented the City of Boulder’s comprehensive‑plan update to the Boulder Arts Commission on Sept. 24, asking for the commission’s policy feedback and site‑level suggestions ahead of a December joint study session with the planning board and council.

The update will set a 20‑year vision for the Boulder Valley and is intended to be adopted in 2026 after review by four adopting bodies: Boulder City Council, the city planning board, the Boulder County Board of Commissioners and the county planning commission. “We update the plan every 10 years,” said Sarah Horn, senior planner on the city’s long‑range planning team, explaining why the current step update is underway.

Why it matters: the comprehensive plan sits above zoning and capital projects and guides long‑range choices about where housing, commerce and culture can locate. Planning staff said the update will aim for clearer, shorter policy language and a land‑use approach defined at a neighborhood or hub scale rather than parcel‑by‑parcel rules.

Planning staff described a new land‑use framework with four broad classes: neighborhoods, hubs, networks (parks and open space) and institutions. A draft concept showed a central community hub with surrounding mixed‑use housing and walkable networks. Kalani Pahoa, an urban designer on the team, said the change is intended to give the city “flexibility” to mix housing, work and cultural uses in places where the community wants them.

Commissioners pressed staff to make arts and culture explicit in the plan’s policies and land‑use descriptions rather than only relying on the community’s current perceptions that arts are “doing OK.” Commissioner Maria Cole said that items not written into the comp plan risk being overlooked in future decisionmaking. Horn replied, “We will cover arts and culture, and we will specifically call it out in in our policies,” and added the planning team will consider places the commission has identified on a public map when drafting the future land‑use map.

Commissioners raised several specific, actionable issues for staff to consider:
- Home‑based art studios: Commissioners said the current zoning and the official definition of “art studio” can prevent artists from legally working at home. Staff said the comp plan could include an objective to allow more artist studios in residential areas and that any zoning code changes would be addressed after plan adoption.
- Cultural districts and Civic Center activation: Commissioners asked whether the Novo cultural district could be expanded and how the Civic Center plan would reflect cultural uses. Staff said the comp plan can recommend investigating additional district designations and that parks and cultural programming teams are working on Civic Center activation.
- Night‑time economy and venues: Commissioners urged policies that support affordable, late‑hour venues and activation of downtown and neighborhood hubs to increase attendance and support artists.

Staff outlined the public‑engagement and timeline milestones: a statistically valid survey mailed to 5,000 households, an open online questionnaire, a Dec. 11 joint four‑body study session to present recommendations, a March presentation of draft plan revisions to boards and a targeted adoption process in spring/summer 2026. Staff also said they will continue to coordinate the comp‑plan language with the city’s Arts Blueprint and other department plans.

Staff noted the broader legal context in plain terms during the presentation: planning is a state requirement for municipalities, and the comprehensive plan will apply to the entire Boulder Valley planning area, which includes city limits and adjacent unincorporated county areas.

Ending: Planning staff asked the commission to provide written comments through staff liaisons and to forward any additional suggestions to Lauren in the Office of Arts and Culture before the December joint session. The commission agreed to follow up on zoning language for studios and to share suggested map areas and policy wording with planning staff.","City planning staff told the Boulder Arts Commission on Sept. 24 that the comprehensive‑plan update will include explicit arts and culture policy, move to neighborhood‑scale land‑use designations and is on a schedule for adoption in 2026; commissioners urged stronger, actionable language and changes to zoning to support home‑based art studios.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Boulder Arts Commission advances grants overhaul: new 'bedrock' operating support, multi‑year awards and clearer equity points

Boulder Arts Commission recommends council adopt 2026 arts budget, urges review of administrative funding

Boulder planners ask Arts Commission for input as comprehensive‑plan update refocuses land use