Kyle Grabowski Board meeting story

Cultural resources board shuffles leadership
By Kyle Grabowski

The Fort Collins Cultural Resources board elected new officers at its last meeting on March 31. Jan Gilligan was elected chair by the other members despite not being present at the meeting. “She is willing to do it,” standing President Susan Beck-Ferkiss said. Gilligan formerly served as the vice-chair before moving up to chair. The board selected Chris Clemmer to replace her as vice president with unanimous support.

According to its website, the board’s primary function is to “advise City Council on issues relating to the Lincoln Center and the Fort Collins Museum” in addition to “[reviewing] applications and [making] recommendations for funding from the City of Fort Collins' Cultural Development and Programming Account and Tourism Programming Account (Fort Fund).”

Katie, a liaison from the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, made a presentation asking the board if they could request funds for the Spring Creek Gardens to make a brochure to advertise itself. According to Beck-Ferkiss, the board is not allowed to give out money from the Fort Fund for advertising, but could possibly use marketing matching grants.


Art instillation at Spring Creek Gardens (Photo courtesy of zinkmetalart.com)



Video of the Spring Creek Gardens from YouTube

The CVB’s proposal primarily focused on using 25 percent of the current lodging tax to promote events or opportunities outside of Fort Collins in order to draw travelers to the city.

“There are some organizations that have produced some really great content and need to tell the world about it,” Katie said.
Overall the board was in agreement that it should help the organizations market themselves, but was divided on whether to provide additional funds or change regulations to allow them to use their current funds.

“I would rather see us not input funds and just change the regulations,” Beck-Ferkiss said. “I don’t want to dilute our funds.”

Much of the debate centered on whether or not the board should put money toward print advertising like brochures, or pursue other avenues of promotion. “Print can be a great asset or a hole you throw money in,” Patrick Morgan said.

The board did not make any final decision, but put an item on a future agenda to discuss adding another form to their grant application process that people could choose to fill out and receive matching marketing dollars.

In the public comments section, Beth Flowers forewarned the board that Streetmosphere would be applying for Fort Fund money for the second consecutive year, despite the organization’s prior stance that it would not need the money. The organization will be receiving significantly less money from the Downtown Development Authority, but the DDA would match any money given by Fort Fund up to $250,000. Flowers said that Streetmosphere raised more money itself than the previous year based on sponsorships and guidebook advertisements.

Only 30 percent of the performers who were present at last year’s event were rehired for this year, providing solid turnover and new life to the program. “It’s cool that only 30 percent come back because that will keep it fresh,” Beck-Ferkis said. Streetmosphere will begin May 13 in downtown Fort Collins.