Clifton Cultural Arts Center asks finance committee for $500,000 to close capital campaign gap

Leslie Mooney, executive director of the Clifton Cultural Arts Center, addressed the Cincinnati City Council Finance and Budget Committee during the meeting’s public-comment period to request $500,000 from the committee’s capital projects reserve fund to close a remaining gap in the center’s capital campaign.

Mooney told the committee the Clifton Cultural Arts Center (CCAC) has significantly exceeded its fundraising expectations given its operating budget and neighborhood scale, but still faces a persistent shortfall. “We hope that you see the value of what we're doing at CCAC as a community arts center and that you will use this small pot of money…to help us make a huge impact in our neighborhoods,” Mooney said.

The request was introduced to the committee with thanks to Council member Seth Walsh “for putting forward the motion for the capital projects reserve fund,” according to public remarks recorded at the meeting. The committee did not take a formal vote on the request during the session; the matter remains before the council for consideration.

CCAC’s request, as described by Mooney, seeks the $500,000 maximum available from the capital projects reserve fund. Mooney said CCAC’s annual operating budget is under $500,000 and that the organization has relied on philanthropy and local support to advance its campaign but still needs the requested amount to complete the project.

The item was presented during the public-comment portion of the finance committee meeting; no formal committee action on the CCAC request is recorded in the transcript excerpt.

Further committee consideration or a formal vote was not recorded during this meeting.