Leesburg arts commission approves $2,500 for Mistletoe Market, adds "No" option to town survey
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Summary
At a commission meeting, members approved up to $2,500 to support the Mistletoe Market (split equally for technical needs and performer honoraria), voted to add a "No" response to a question on the town's demographic survey, and agreed an outreach plan for brochures and social media.
The Leesburg Performing Arts Commission voted to reserve up to $2,500 to support the Mistletoe Market and approved a change to the town's demographic survey during a regularly scheduled meeting.
Commission member Tony called for allocating a maximum of $2,500 for the December market and said the commission should split the amount between technical elements and performer fees. "If it's cheaper, it's cheaper. They're not gonna complain," Tony said during the discussion about budgeting and logistics.
The commission agreed to divide the funds evenly, with $1,250 earmarked for technical elements (tent or stage rental, sound system, generator) and $1,250 for performer honoraria. The commission recorded the allocation as a motion, which passed on a voice vote (yes: 5, no: 0, abstain: 0). Commissioners said staff would obtain firm quotes before presenting the package to town council for final approval.
Why it matters: Commission members said an organized paid performance program and the right technical setup would attract more groups and audiences to the downtown holiday event and support local performers.
Members discussed logistics that would affect cost and placement, including: the county's large artificial Christmas tree on the courthouse grounds; limited electrical access on site; and the possibility of borrowing a mobile stage or other equipment from county parks and recreation. Commissioners noted a 15-by-15 tent quote from the town's regular vendor and a combined tent-and-stage quote near $1,500, and said a sound-system rental could be around $1,000 depending on provider availability.
The commission also reviewed the town's voluntary demographic survey, which the town distributes to assess community needs under a Title VI nondiscrimination notice. Commissioners agreed to add "No" as an option to question 12 ("Do you live in Leesburg?") after members noted the current form forces a "Yes" selection and then a comment indicating otherwise. The motion to add a "No" option was made, seconded and approved by voice vote (yes: 5, no: 0, abstain: 0).
Commissioners discussed outreach to boost survey responses and general awareness, including placing brochure stacks at the town hall lobby, the public library, studios, senior center and DMV, and promoting the survey on the town and commission social media pages. Members also agreed to staff follow-up to request county parks and recreation's lending policies for a mobile stage and to confirm final cost quotes before the commission presents its budget request to town council.
The commission set a process timeline: staff will gather final vendor quotes and a recommended layout, share materials with commissioners within a week, and the commission will submit the budget package to the town manager and council per the council's meeting schedule.
The commission emphasized that the $2,500 allocation is conditional on final quotes and council approval and that staff would return with completed cost estimates and site measurements.
Votes at a glance - Motion: Allocate up to $2,500 for the Mistletoe Market, split $1,250 for technical elements and $1,250 for performers. Outcome: Approved (voice vote reported as 5-0-0). - Motion: Add a "No" option to question 12 of the town demographic survey ("Do you live in Leesburg?"). Outcome: Approved (voice vote reported as 5-0-0).
Ending: Commissioners asked staff to finalize quotes and logistics quickly so the proposal could be included in the council packet on the schedule already discussed.