Drafter
Clerk 03/05/2018
Title
A MOTION calling for establishment of a task force to conduct a review of cultural infrastructure across King County, the accessibility of arts, cultural and heritage programming and the structure and practices of 4Culture, the cultural development authority of King County, and to report its recommendations to the council.
Body
WHEREAS, the King County council established the cultural development authority of King County in 2002 by adopting Ordinance 14482 in order to continue support for cultural resources, including arts, heritage, historic preservation and public art, and
WHEREAS, the purpose of supporting cultural resources, according to Ordinance 14482, is to create a vibrant cultural community that enhances King County's livability and reputation as a national and international cultural center, and
WHEREAS, the cultural development authority of King County, known as 4Culture, makes the region vibrant by administering and supports programs for King County's arts, heritage, preservation and public art, and
WHEREAS, 4Culture's work includes: funding individual artists, artist groups and arts organizations that provide access to art experiences for all King County residents and visitors; helping communities recognize, preserve and explore our shared heritage; supporting the preservation of historic places that give King County its character; and commissioning and collecting for the King County Public Art Collection, bringing artists' thinking to the shared spaces and offering consulting to the region, and
WHEREAS, 4Culture provides arts and heritage grants to more than four hundred individuals and organizations in King County each year, putting public resources to use throughout King County, and
WHEREAS, the 4Culture board, executive director, staff and advisory committees have demonstrated a commitment to addressing racial, geographic and income-related funding inequities and creating an environment in which all King County residents have the opportunity to participate actively in cultural opportunities, and
WHEREAS, in May 2011, the Washington state Legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5834, which guaranteed that lodging taxes would fund King County cultural programs for the long-term by allocating 37.5 percent of lodging taxes beginning in 2021 for arts and culture, and
WHEREAS, 4Culture is approaching several key milestones, with the retirement of its founding executive director in 2018 and the resumption of lodging taxes in 2021, and
WHEREAS, the King County council believes that at this critical juncture, it is appropriate to review the existing cultural infrastructure across King County, the accessibility of arts, cultural and heritage programming and the structure and practices of 4Culture, and
WHEREAS, such a review must ensure that policies and practices are aligned with King County's 2016 equity and social justice strategic plan and that cultural development programs and funding opportunities are planned and implemented in a way that improves equity in local communities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
A. The King County executive and council, working in coordination with 4Culture, intend to convene a cultural development task force that includes local elected officials, representatives from 4Culture and representatives from local, regional and statewide arts, cultural and heritage organizations to lead a review of cultural infrastructure across King County, the accessibility of arts, cultural and heritage programming and the structure and practices of 4Culture.
B. The cultural development task force shall be comprised of at least fourteen members, and include, but not be limited to:
1. Two members of the King County council;
2. The King County executive or designee;
3. Two representatives from 4Culture; and
4. Representatives from arts, culture and heritage organizations in King County, including at least nine representatives from small arts, cultural and heritage organizations in King County.
C. The task force membership shall reflect King County's geographic, cultural, artistic, gender, economic, racial and ethnic diversity.
D. The cultural development task force shall be facilitated by an independent consultant to be selected by the task force and funded by King County. The King County office of equity and social justice shall provide additional staff support and assistance to the task force.
E. No later than ninety days after the passage of this motion, the executive is requested to both appoint the task force members by a letter of appointment and transmit to the council for each task force member appointed, a copy of the letter of appointment together with a motion confirming the appointment. Confirmation or rejection of appointments shall be by motion. The executive is requested to seek input from all members of the King County council and consider the input in appointing the task force members.
F. The cultural development task force shall assess and evaluate 4Culture's governance structure, including the processes for nominating and appointing board members, and 4Culture's processes and practices, including, but not limited to, its grant processes, programming and outreach to diverse communities. The assessment shall be guided by King County's 2016-2022 Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan.
G. The cultural development task force shall seek and consider input from stakeholders and the public on 4Culture practices and on governance and oversight models.
H. The cultural development task force shall use the results of its assessment, evaluation and outreach to prepare a report that includes:
1. Recommendations on 4Culture's practices, governance and oversight structure; and
2. Recommended strategies: to promote geographic and social equity in the allocation of funding, including strategies to promote submission of award applications from practitioners in arts, culture and heritage disciplines who reside in areas in King County that have historically been underrepresented in receiving funding for arts, culture and heritage programming; to support the development of cultural infrastructure across King County; and to improve accessibility of arts, cultural and historic preservation programming countywide.
I. The King County executive is requested to transmit the report containing the recommendations of the cultural development task force by April 1, 2019, along with a motion accepting the report and any legislation needed to implement the recommendations. The report and motion, as well as any accompanying legislation, should be transmitted in the form of a paper original and an electronic copy to the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to all
councilmembers, the council chief of staff and the lead staff for the committee of the whole, or its successor.