A&P Commission awards $77,830 during spring 2015 funding meeting

A mural by Fayetteville artist Jason Jones adorns a wall along Archibald Yell Boulevard in Fayetteville. Jones was awarded $11,250 for a new mural project in downtown Fayetteville during the A&P Commission’s spring funding meeting on Monday.

Photo: Flyer staff

Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commissioners awarded $77,830 to help fund 20 projects during its regular spring special funding discussion Monday afternoon.

Twice each year, the commission awards funds to groups needing financial help with promoting or starting an event. The funds available depend on what’s left over from the commission’s budget, which is funded mostly by half of the city’s 2 percent HMR sales tax.

Fayetteville artist Jason Jones received the largest award of $11,250 towards a new mural project planned in downtown Fayetteville.

Walton Arts Center’s Artosphere festival received the second highest amount with a $10,000 award, and Lights of the Ozarks will receive $7,500 from the spring funding and an additional $7,500 in the fall to complete their $15,000 request toward buying new LED lights for the annual display on the Fayetteville square.

Commissioners had about $80,000 to work with this year with more than $240,000 in requests. The commission ultimately decided to save a few thousand of that to put toward an upcoming repair project for the stairway leading up to the Fayetteville Town Center.

Below is the list of projects considered on Monday, including award amounts for each organization.

Local artist Jason Jones talked with A&P Commissioner Adella Gray last month about his proposal to paint three murals in downtown Fayetteville similar to his recently completed “Shop Local” mural on a building along Archibald Yell Boulevard.

Staff photo

Spring 2015 funding awards

1. 7 Hills Homeless Center – Request: $3,500 | Award: $3,500
   7 Hills Homeless Center requested $3,500 to pay the rental fee for the Fayetteville Town Center during the group’s “Chill with the Hills” fundraising event on Oct. 10. Commissioners discussed whether or not it was appropriate to fund a gala event, but ultimately decided it was important to support an organization that helps to reduce the population of homeless in the city.
2. Artist’s Laboratory Theatre – Request: $10,650 | Award: $4,000
   Artist’s Laboratory Theatre asked for $10,650 to help fund marketing-related expenses for various live performances and radio shows from May 1 through Dec. 31.
3. Artosphere – Request: $15,000 | Award: $10,000
   The Walton Arts Center wanted $15,000 to help pay for artist fees, travel expenses, marketing and production costs related to the annual Artosphere festival activities planned in Fayetteville from June 15-28.
4. Banded Suffering – Request: $6,000 | Award: $1,500
   Phat Tire Cycling Club requested $6,000 to help promote Banded Suffering, a series of bike races benefiting the NWA Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, on Oct. 17 in Fayetteville.
5. Celebrate the Buffalo – Request: $10,000 | Award: $2,580
   The Buffalo River Watershed Alliance requested $7,000 to hire an event planner, and $3,000 to help promote a fundraising dinner for several Buffalo River Coalition groups on Sept. 26 at the Fayetteville Town Center.
6. Fayetteville Bulldog Classic – Request: $10,000 | Award: $4,000
   Fayetteville Public Schools requested for $10,000 to help offset operating expenses for the Bulldog Classic Basketball Tournament, set for the first and second weekends in December at the FHS gymnasiums.
7. Hero Half Marathon – Request: $20,000 | Award: $3,500
   The Fayetteville Firefighters’ Association asked for $20,000 to help with marketing, trophies, and race materials for the 2015 Hero Half Marathon and 1 mile run, set for Oct. 10 along the Fayetteville trail system.
8. Hooten Football Classic – Request: $8,000 | Award: $1,000
   Hooten Publishing, Inc. wanted $8,000 to help promote the Hooten Football Classic high school football games set for Sept. 1 at Razorback Stadium.
9. Jason Jones Mural – Request: $30,000 | Award: $11,250
   Local artist Jason Jones asked for $30,000 to paint three new murals in downtown Fayetteville, similar in theme to the Shop Local mural he recently completed on a building along Archibald Yell Blvd. The commission agreed to fund one of the three projects, and to schedule a discussion about how to fund similar public art projects in the future.
10. Last Night Fayetteville – Request: $16,000 | Award: $7,000
    Last Night Fayetteville asked for $16,000 to help offset expenses for the annual New Year’s Eve celebration on the Fayetteville downtown square, which includes a fireworks finale.
11. Last Saturday Variety Show – Request: $5,000 | Award: $1,000
    The Northwest Arkansas Creative Arts Network wanted $5,000 to help promote its monthly variety show at the Fayetteville Underground through November 2015.
12. LifeSource International – Request: $11,000 | Award: 0
    LifeSource International requested $11,000 for food catering and rental of the Fayetteville Town Center for the annual Hands of Compassion fundraising gala, set for April 28. The group turned in their application after the deadline. Though funding guidelines state that events may only request funds once per year, the commission agreed that they would consider another request from the group in the fall since they technically never considered the spring request since it came in late.
13. Lights of the Ozarks – Request: $15,000 | Award: $7,500*
    Fayetteville Parks and Recreation requested $15,000 to help operate the 2015 Lights of the Ozarks display on the downtown square from Nov. 20 to Dec. 31. The money will go toward the purchase of new LED light strands for the festival. *Commissioners agreed to fund half of the request from the spring period, and the rest in the fall in order to fund as many of the spring requests as possible.
14. NWA Hispanic Heritage Festival – Request: $10,000 | Award: $4,000
    The Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce asked for $10,000 for the 2015 NWA Hispanic Heritage Festival celebrating the culture and history of Hispanic Arkansans, set for Oct. 10-11 at Mae Farm, adjacent to Lake Fayetteville.
15. NWA Techfest – Request: $6,500 | Award: $1,500
    NWA Techfest requested $6,500 to rent the Donald W. Reynolds Center for the annual event, which benefits local food banks. This year’s NWA Techfest is set for Oct. 9 on the University of Arkansas campus.
16. Oktoberfest 2015 – Request: $11,400 | Award: $6,500
    The Dickson Street Merchants Association and The Arkansas Brewers Guild requested $11,400 for posters, printing, and merchandise for a festival highlighting local breweries and restaurants set for Oct. 18 11 on and around Dickson Street.
17. Outback in the Ozarks – Request: $7,350 | Award: $500
    Outback in the Ozarks asked for $7,350 to help with marketing costs for a 200-mile and 65-mile team overnight relay run through five state parks ending in Fayetteville. The event, which benefits Youth Bridge and The Friends of Hobbs, is scheduled for Oct. 9-10.
18. Offshoot Film Fest – Request: $13,100 | Award: $2,000
    The Seedling Film Association requested $13,100 for marketing and guest travel expenses related to the 2015 Offshoot Film Fest, set for Sept. 10-12 at the University of Arkansas Global Campus on the Fayetteville downtown square.
19. Square to Square – Request: $1,000 | Award: $500
    Fayetteville Parks and Recreation asked for $1,000 to help promote a new biannual bicycle ride event on the Razorback Greenway trail system to and from the Fayetteville and Bentonville downtown squares. The start and finish will alternate between the two cities twice each year with the finish line city hosting a festival.
20. Banff Mountain Film Festival – Request: $3,350 | Award: $1,000
    Banff Mountain Film Festival organizers requested $3,350 to help offset advertising and venue expenses related to the 2015 Banff Mountain Film Festival tour stop in Fayetteville on Sept. 17-18 at the UA Global Campus on the downtown square.
21. The Little Craft Show – Request: $22,500 | Award: $3,500
    The Little Craft Show asked for $22,500 to help cover marketing and venue rental expenses for the 2015 event, set for Dec. 4-5 at the Fayetteville Town Center. The group agreed to award the group enough money for one night rental of the Fayetteville Town Center
22. TheatreSquared Gala for Education – Request: $5,000 | Award: $0
    TheatreSquared asked for $5,000 to cover venue and equipment rental fees for its 2015 Gala for Education event, scheduled in November at the Fayetteville Town Center. Commissioners agreed that TheatreSquared is deserving of funds as an arts organization, but the group prefers to help out by funding their season marketing budget in the fall.
23. Tri-State Volleyball Challenge – Request: $3,000 | Award: $1,500
    Fayetteville Public Schools requested $3,000 to help with hospitality costs, game officiating, and administration expenses for the 2015 Tri-State Volleyball Challenge, set for Sept. 12 at the Fayetteville High School Bulldog Arena.