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Battleground Art Alliance asks city for space, fee relief and grant help
Summary
Battleground Art Alliance told the city council it needs affordable space and lower event-center fees to hold arts events locally, and asked the city to consider LTAC or other grants and partnership opportunities.
Representatives of the Battleground Art Alliance (BGAA) presented to the Battle Ground City Council on July 20 seeking a closer partnership with the city to expand local arts programming and to secure a more affordable event space.
BGAA president Joylynn Woodard told the council the nonprofit, formed in 2001, represents about 70 artists and patrons with roughly 30% of members living in Battle Ground and the remainder in Clark County. Presenter Randy Amman described BGAA’s programming—quarterly art celebrations, Art in the Park, open studio tours and student juried shows—and said the alliance wants help identifying affordable space and pursuing grant opportunities. “We were formed in September 2001…we consist of currently roughly 70 artists and patrons,” Amman said.
BGAA members said the city event center’s rental fee—about $3,000 for a day—has made hosting local arts events cost-prohibitive. “That is so far out from what it used to be, and it is so cost prohibitive for ourselves,” a BGAA volunteer said, urging the council to consider fee discounts or set-aside days for nonprofits. Council members suggested BGAA pursue LTAC tourism grant options and said staff could share details about available funding and city event scheduling. One council member noted the LTAC tourism-award deadline is approaching and encouraged BGAA to apply.
Council staff and members discussed possible near-term steps: staff assistance to identify grant opportunities, outreach to local businesses for shared-space ideas, and potential scheduling or fee adjustments to allow nonprofit access without compromising the city’s cost recovery goals. No formal action or funding commitment was made at the meeting; BGAA was encouraged to follow up with staff and to submit grant applications where eligible.
The presentation highlighted the alliance’s aim to bring more cultural events to Battle Ground and emphasized the local economic benefits BGAA projects for merchants and tourism if events expand.
