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Artlicious organizer thanks DDA, warns funding and volunteer gaps threaten future events
Summary
Don Taylor, past chair of Artlicious, told the DDA the festival runs on about $25,000 annually and said recent changes to Michigan Arts and Culture Council funding and NEA uncertainty, coupled with an aging volunteer and artist base, present ongoing challenges.
Don Taylor, a resident and past chair of Artlicious, used the DDA public-comment period on Oct. 8 to thank the authority and city partners for long-running support and to describe funding and volunteer challenges facing the downtown arts festival.
Taylor said the event operates on an annual budget of roughly $25,000, raised through artist fees, nonprofit support, vendor fees and donations, and credited the DDA and city departments (DPW, parks, parks staff) for logistical support.
"Our annual budget is about $25,000," Taylor said, adding the festival relies heavily on volunteers and that many artists who historically participated are aging or shifting away from multi-day fair formats.
Taylor said funding through the Michigan Arts and Culture Council had averaged about $10,362 annually over the past 12 years but that, after an application problem in the new format, neither Artlicious nor the Adrian Center for the Arts received funding this year. He also referenced uncertain NEA support and broader state-level funding changes.
Why it matters: Taylor framed the issue as both operational (volunteer recruitment, donor diversification) and external (changes in public arts funding). He urged continued DDA support for placemaking and said he would press on with event planning in partnership with the DDA and other local institutions.
Board response and context: The board heard the concerns during public comment; Jacob Cooper and Jay Marks later discussed fundraising approaches and the DDA's multi-tiered strategy to combine large donors with grassroots contributions. The DDA will continue coordinating event support with the city and local partners.
The DDA did not vote on Artlicious funding at the Oct. 8 meeting; Taylor's remarks were recorded as public comment and the board noted the need for broader donor and volunteer outreach.
