Juneau arts council refuses to sign FY27 grant over how $202,000 can be spent

The Juneau Assembly approved about $202,000 in arts funding with no reductions. The Juneau Arts and Humanities Council turned it down anyway, rejecting the grant agreement over how the money can be spent.

Most of it is meant to pass through the council to other arts groups and individual artists, its core job. Its plan would cut major grants to outside groups from $115,000 to $55,000, cut individual artist grants from $12,000 to $5,000, and drop catalyst grants and rental aid for small organizations, worth $15,000 together. In their place, $80,000 would fund a new Youth, Arts Education and Community Programming line, work the city has historically paid for elsewhere.

The agreement allows $60,000 for administration, about 30 percent; the council wants $62,000. Travel Juneau spends 19 percent on administration, the Juneau Community Foundation 3 percent.

In an earlier request to the city, the council asked for more support for "JAHC Admin/Operations as we increased our programming." Executive Director Maggie McMillan told the finance committee the council is down to three full-time staff. Mayor Beth Weldon said it has "had to lay off staff" and is restructuring.

Last year the council awarded $130,000 in major grants to 15 organizations, including Perseverance Theatre, Ghost Light Theatre and Juneau Jazz and Classics, out of $339,000 requested. It gave another $15,000 to 14 individual artists.

Finance Director Angie Flick has asked the Assembly Finance Committee for direction, saying no partner agency has departed from the regranting requirement before. The committee takes up the grant Sept. 2. It had already rejected a $20,000 cut to the council, on a 4-5 vote.