The Garland City Council on Oct. 6 unanimously approved the Garland Cultural Arts Commission Incorporated budget, a $160,000 hotel-occupancy tax grant award pool for local arts organizations and authorized the city manager to execute the hotel-occupancy tax program management agreement.

The funding pool will be distributed to 19 applicant organizations, including two new grantees this year: Garland Creates, a new 501(c)(3) serving creatives, and Bright Lights Theater, a youth-oriented theater company. The commission received roughly $261,000 in requests and recommended $160,000 in awards. Affiliates receiving legacy status and preferential booking or discounted rental rates were listed as Garland Symphony Orchestra, Garland Summer Musicals and Garland Civic Theater.

Amy Rosenthal, Cultural Arts, told the council the commission opened applications in August, interviewed applicants in September and deliberated on recommended awards at its Sept. 14 meeting. "Most of [Garland Cultural Arts Commission Inc.] revenues come from the hotel occupancy taxes," Rosenthal said, and the commission directs most of its budget toward community grants and program support. Councilmember Thomas noted the program draws nonresident attendees and economic activity into Garland; he said ticket buyers come from "coast to coast" and that out-of-city visitors who stay in hotels help fund the program.

Councilmember Dunton made the motion to approve the grant recommendations, and Councilmember Bass seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Council members asked staff to post the affiliate/associate status information on the city website; Rosenthal confirmed that detail will appear on the commission’s site. The packet presented to council showed the recommended allocations, the list of 19 applicants, and the commission's scoring and deliberations from September.

The vote authorizes the city manager or designee to execute the program management agreement and distribute the recommended awards; it does not change the hotel-occupancy tax rate.

The council moved on to other items after the vote; no speakers registered on this item during the meeting.