LTC 409-2018 Cultural Tourism Grant Program MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # LETTER TO COMMISSION
409-2018
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members i f the City I ommission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manage ,t r�
DATE: June 19, 2018
SUBJECT: Cultural Tourism Grant Program
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide you with an update on the Cultural Tourism
Grants Program. On July 12, 2018. the Cultural Arts Council made a motion to collaborate with The
Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA) to launch a Cultural Tourism Grants
Program in FY 2019/2020.
The objective of the program is to provide funding for new, innovative activities and events which
promote yearlong cultural tourism. through specific programming that supports and advances the
missions of the MBVCA and the Cultural Arts Council. During the upcoming FY 2018/2019, the
MBVCA will initiate the Cultural Tourism Grant Program on its own, while strategically planning and
meeting with the CAC, with the objective that the joint grant will be launched in FY 2019/2020. At
that time, funding for the Cultural Tourism Grants will be determined by a combined panel of
MBVCA and Cultural Arts Council members. Funding will be provided jointly. with a combined total
of $150,000 available.
The MBVCA is a seven-member authority, appointed by the City of Miami Beach Commission, with
the goal of encouraging, developing and promoting the image of Miami Beach locally, nationally and
internationally as an outstanding tourist destination. To this end, the MBVCA strategically focuses
its funding investments in a balanced manner, fostering outstanding existing programs, stimulating
new activities, and encouraging partnerships. The MBVCA is committed to a careful, long-term plan
for allocation of resources to help Miami Beach thrive as a destination with something for everyone.
The Cultural Arts Council (CAC) is an eleven-member council created in 1997 for the purpose of
developing, coordinating and promoting the performing and visual arts in the City of Miami Beach.
The CAC serves as arts advocates before governmental bodies, coordinates collective marketing
initiatives for the local arts community and funds not-for-profit arts organizations.
The grant program will be announced through published and disseminated guidelines and
application forms and legally advertised deadlines. The grant program requires organizations to
show evidence of matching funds from other public and private sector sources.
The mission of this jointly managed grant program is to underline the City of Miami Beach as a
world-class destination for cultural tourism.
JLM/KGB/ES/br
C: Kathie G. Brooks, Assistant City Manager
Eva Silverstein, Director, Tourism. Culture and Economic Development