The Santa Rosa Arts and Culture Foundation is closer to receiving a requested $10,000 in sponsorship for the upcoming Riverwalk Arts Festival from the City of Milton, following this week’s executive committee meeting. Last month, SRACF President Jerry Cummings approached the council about receiving $10,000. However, the council asked Cummings to provide a detailed list of how the requested funding would be spent before making a decision.
In addition to presenting the requested list and a letter, Cummings stood before the council to once again make his case on the festival’s behalf.
“We foster community pride in the City of Milton and our entire county of Santa Rosa,” Cummings said at the meeting. “What we are asking you to do is to make this one-time commitment to the Santa Rosa Arts and Culture Foundation because these are items that we will use until they break down.”
The list of included items at the following quoted costs:
- Stage Repair – $1,250.00
- All Pro Sound (system) – $3,674.00
- Canvas Cover – $500.00
- Keyboards – $1,200.00
- Children’s Books /Awards – $1,500.00
- 20 by 30 foot Exhibit Tent – $2,789.00
The total listed items cost is $10,913.00. Cummings is also hopeful in receiving funding from the county’s Tourist Development Council. Council Member Alan Lowery, who serves as the city’s TDC representative, said the TDC board is considering providing the SRACF with $3,000 in funding to market the festival.
Like last month, Lowery shared his hesitations about giving the SRACF the full requested amount.
“Personally, I have a hard time with $10,000,” Lowery said. “It is taking too much of (the funding ) out. I would be more willing for $5,000 personally, but that is just me.”
Satisfied in hearing the $10,000 is a one-time investment for items which can be reused on an annual basis, Council Member Jimmy Messick made a motion to provide the requested amount sought the community event.
Lowery was the lone vote against the motion to approve the full amount. Council Member Ashley Lay was not in attendance at the meeting. With Lowery’s nay vote, the item will be brought before the council again at Tuesday’s regular council meeting.
In a follow up interview, Cummings said he did not merely see as the city as just sponsoring the event, but as “investing into the community.”
“They are aware of the value this event brings in showing the arts and culture and quality of life,” Cummings said. “They see what a good job we do with it and how it makes the city look good.”
At the previous council meeting, Cummings told the council the festival drew in around 15,000 visitors.
In addition to featuring different types of art, all of which will be juried for awards, the event will also feature cultural performances, music, food along with the All County Youth Art, featuring area students exhibit and a kids fun zone, according to the SRACF website.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Riverwalk Arts Festival closer to receiving $10,000 from city