Metro Arts committee adopts standardized background‑check attestation, outlines FY25 grants timeline and FY26 engagement plan

The Metro Arts Commission Grants Committee on Jan. 23 received an updated grants timeline, approved a standardized attestation for background checks required of grantees and discussed plans for more extensive community engagement for the FY26 grant cycle.

Committee Chair Heather Lefkowitz opened the informational meeting and noted there were no action items on the agenda for this session; the committee did approve minutes from its Jan. 15 meeting during the same call. Interim Executive Director Ashley Batchelder led the grants update and described both operational changes for the current (FY25) cycle and early planning for FY26.

Why it matters: the committee is processing an accelerated grants schedule while addressing applicant confusion over new requirements. Staff said the attestation and the revised timeline are meant to reduce technical‑review invalidations and increase transparency for applicants.

Ashley Batchelder said staff had created “an attestation that all adult individuals participating in the programming or instruction of minors … have satisfactory background checks within the last 2 years” and that the attestation would be submitted in place of individual background‑investigation reports. Batchelder said…