Arts Federation seeks $5,000 from Howard County; commissioners take request under advisement

Tisha Lee, chief executive officer of the Arts Federation, and Robin Williams, the Howard County representative to the Regional Arts Council, asked the Howard County Board of Commissioners for $5,000 to support public-art programming and regional arts work in the county.

Lee told the commissioners the Arts Federation is the regional arts partner to the Indiana Arts Commission and administers federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts to the region. She said the Federation has invested approximately $770,000 in Howard County since the partnership began and noted prior projects the organization helped administer, including a Miami mural and a Tuskegee Airmen project. Lee said the Federation is requesting $5,000 to continue programming and support for local arts organizations and public-art projects.

Robin Williams introduced Lee and described local projects the Federation helped manage. Because the presentation occurred during public comment, the commissioners said they could not take immediate action; after discussion the board moved to take the request under advisement. A motion to take the request under advisement passed by voice vote. Lee noted an internal fundraising deadline of June 30; commissioners did not commit county funds during the meeting.