ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT Date: July 16, 1996 TO: Vancouver City Council FROM: Director, Office of Cultural Affairs SUBJECT: 1996 Cultural Grants - Organizational Development Fund Requests RECOMMENDATION THAT Council approve the following grants towards arts administration training costs: (1) Grinning Dragon Theatre: $350 (2) Firehall Theatre Society: $750 (3) Judith Marcuse Dance Projects: $650; source of funds to be the Organizational Development fund in the 1996 Cultural Grants budget, leaving an unallocated balance of $26,750. GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS The General Manager of Community Services RECOMMENDS approval of the foregoing. COUNCIL POLICY On February 1, 1996, City Council approved the allocation of $29,000 in the 1996 Cultural Grants budget for Organizational Development grants. Approval of grant recommendations requires eight affirmative votes. PURPOSE This report makes recommendations on three requests for grants from the Organizational Development component of the 1996 Cultural Grants budget. BACKGROUND Organizational Development Grants Organizational Development is one of two funds in the Incentive Grants category (the other being Cross-Cultural Initiatives). Organizational Development funds are intended to help arts groups upgrade staff skills by assisting with arts administra-tion training costs, as well as addressing specific operational and long-range planning issues. There is currently a balance of $28,500 in the Organizational Development component of the Cultural Grants budget. DISCUSSION Grinning Dragon Theatre Grinning Dragon Theatre has requested a grant of $485 towards the $975 cost of training sessions on theatre administration, publicity, production management and touring, conducted by experienced theatre professionals. Participants in the sessions will include staff and board members from Grinning Dragon, as well as members of other emerging theatre companies. Staff recommend a grant of $350. Firehall Theatre Society The Firehall Theatre Society has applied for a grant of $750 to help send its administrator to Banff Centre's "Management Development for the Arts" program this summer. The program includes strategic planning, financial management, fund-raising, marketing and media relations. Tuition costs are $2,495. A grant of $750 is recommended. Judith Marcuse Dance Projects Society The Society has asked for assistance with the $1,475 tuition costs of sending its executive director to the University of Waterloo's Arts Income Development program at its Summer Institute. The level of training in this three-week program is not currently available in British Columbia. A grant of $650 is recommended. * * * * *