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Committee trims Liberty Theater request, flags marketing overlap with tourism dollars
Summary
Astoria committee discussed the Liberty Theater’s $25,000 ask, its prior $10,000 award, and overlap with other tourism marketing; committee proposed a $14,000 placeholder focused on ad placement rather than full design/placement costs.
Committee members described the Liberty Theater as a major cultural institution that asks for a large slice of the arts-and-events fund but also maintains significant outside fundraising and marketing budgets. The theater requested $25,000 this cycle after a $10,000 award last year.
A committee member questioned whether the Liberty’s marketing ask duplicates other tourism-funded advertising and whether the city should prioritize smaller local events that circulate money locally. "What's their ask? Let's see. Asking 25,000. Last year, we gave them 10," a committee member said while reviewing the application. Another member proposed limiting the city's contribution to ad placement and suggested a $14,000 placeholder that would cover placement costs rather than the full creative and placement budget.
Members argued for clarifying how funds would be spent (design vs. placement) and recommended a reduced placeholder award tied to specific deliverables rather than the full amount requested. The committee included the $14,000 placeholder in the package it voted to recommend.
