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Council committee proposes new nonprofit funding guidelines and a tiered approach for performing‑arts support at Addison PAC
Summary
The Community Partnership Committee recommended March 25 that Addison formalize nonprofit funding guidelines, split applications into local‑service and performing‑arts tracks, and structure performing‑arts support around a resident company for the main stage, resident(s) for the studio and a small general‑assistance category.
The Addison City Council’s Community Partnership Committee presented recommended changes to the town’s nonprofit funding process during the March 25 work session, proposing formal program guidelines, an earlier application timeline and a three‑track approach to performing‑arts support for the Addison Performing Arts Center.
Sarah Kichler, chief of staff, said the updated program guidelines would formalize review criteria, provide clearer expectations for applicants and better align the review schedule with the annual budget process. The committee proposes splitting nonprofit applicants into two categories: local service organizations funded from the general fund and performing‑arts organizations funded from the hotel‑occupancy tax (hotel fund). The committee recommended releasing applications in April to allow time for applicant presentations and committee review before budget workshops.
For performing arts, the committee recommended structuring support by facility use: designate WaterTower Theatre as the resident company for the main stage, allow one or more resident companies for the studio (with prioritized scheduling, some in‑kind space and marketing support), and establish a smaller “general assistance” track for new or occasional users seeking limited funding or in‑kind space. The committee also recommended resident‑company expectations such as minimum “lit nights” (e.g., about 50 nights for the main stage and 10 nights for studio residents) and use metrics to measure community impact and audience reach.
Committee members discussed the legal restriction on hotel‑tax uses and noted state law limits for performing‑arts expenditures tied to hotel tax receipts; Kichler said the town would also pursue additional revenue sources — rentals, concessions and naming rights — to grow the performing‑arts funding pool. The committee plans to present the program guidelines for council adoption on April 8 and to open the application window April 11 if council approves the document.
