HomeMy WebLinkAboutII. A. 6. Cultural Affaris 4.22.2025PROPOSED FY 2025-26 OPERATING BUDGET
City of Virginia Beach
Emily Labows, Director
Cultural Affairs
April 22, 2025
Department Organization Summary
Total FTEs Number of Divisions Total FY 2025-26 Budget
14 3 $ 5,804,579
2
FY 2025-26 Programmatic Budget
General Operations,
$2,910,215 , 50%
Arts and Humanities
Commission, $479,223 , 8%
Arts Dedication, $1,894,641 ,
33%
TIP Funds, $520,000 , 9%
PROPOSED
3
Department Operating Budget Summary
4
Program FY2024-25
Amended
FY 2024-25
FTE
FY 2025-26
Proposed
FY 2025-26
FTE Change ($)Change (%)
Arts and Humanities
Commission $ 380,000 -$ 479,223 -$ 99,223 26.1%
General Operations: History
Museums, Cultural Arts,
Sandler Center, VA MOCA
Utilities, Support to City-
owned museums
$ 3,135,382 12 $ 2,910,215 12 ($ 225,167)(7.2%)
Arts Dedication $ 1,613,524 2 $ 1,894,641 2 $ 281,117 7.1%
General Fund Total $ 5,128,906 14 $ 5,284,079 14 $ 155,173 3.0%
VA MOCA’s Boardwalk Art
Show & ViBe District $ 520,500 -$ 520,500 -$ -0%
TIP Fund Total $ 520,500 -$ 520,500 -$ --
Total $ 5,649,406 14 $ 5,804,579 14 $ 155,173 2.7%
Our Initiatives: Who We Are, What We Do
We create ARTS, HERITAGE & CULTURAL EXPERIENCES
to strengthen communities
•Bringing the arts & culture to all citizens through
placemaking, performance & programming city-wide
•Responsible for five initiatives in Council’s Focused Action
Plan
•History Museums: Thoroughgood House, Lynnhaven
House, Francis Land House, Princess Anne County Training
School/Union Kempsville High School Museum
•Sandler Center for the Performing Arts
•Supporting the work of the local nonprofit arts & cultural
community
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City Council’s Historic Arts Investment Makes Headlines
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Council’s Approved Breakdown of New Funding
•Grants to support Individual Artists and Creative Neighborhoods Grants
•Increase funding to arts and cultural organizations and strengthen arts
community
•Additional funding to Arts and Humanities Commission and
sustainability funding for major Virginia Beach-based arts institutions
•Increase public art, placemaking, programming
•Additional staffing for implementation
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New Creative Neighborhoods Grant
•13 projects funded in eight districts
•Each grant up to $10,000, the total amount awarded was $100,327
•Funded activities include murals, festivals, concerts, theater productions, and pop-up parks
•A panel of eight residents from across six districts reviewed and evaluated 18 applications using a rubric that
assessed artistic merit, community impact, feasibility, and alignment with program goals
Pump Track Mural – District 1
TSR Kids 17th Street
Mural – District 6
Scarborough Square – District 3
8
New Individual Artists Support Grants
•28 grants awarded to individuals in nine Council districts
•Each grant up to $4,800, the total amount awarded was $111,972
•Supported artists include painters, sculptors, muralists, musicians, filmmakers, and a puppeteer
•A panel of six residents reviewers from six districts reviewed and evaluated 39 applications using a rubric
that considered artistic vision, project clarity, professional growth potential, and community relevance
Alex Hopper
Rowena Finn Poetry Jackson Natalia Ramos
Sandy Castle
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Initiatives Underway: Public Art & Maintenance
Wings Maintenance
– District 4
City View Sculpture – Underway: District 7
Rudee Loop Temporary
Sculpture – Plans
Underway: District 5
The Wave Maintenance –
District 6
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Initiatives Underway: History Museums & Sandler Center
History
Teas
Ghost Tours at
Thoroughgood House
Sandler Center
for the
Performing Arts
DAR Plaque
Francis Land Restorations
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Initiatives Underway: Programming Throughout Virginia Beach
Dia De Muertos at The Z –
District 4
Song & Dance of India at
Central Library – District 8
Arts All Over at Farmers
Market – District 2
Nansemond Nation’s Red
Crooked Sky at The Z –
District 4
African American Music
at Mt. Trashmore -
District 3
Rosie the
Riveter at
Military
Aviation
Museum –
District 2
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Closing & Next Steps
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•Track and share outcomes of new grants through storytelling, videos, metrics
•Interactive artwork RFP underway
•Launch next grant cycles with lessons learned from pilot programs
•More outreach to civic leagues and community about grant opportunities to
expand partnerships with neighborhoods
•Support grantees with technical assistance, mentorship, and capacity-building
•More live shows and art coming throughout Virginia Beach!