Fayetteville arts programs report strong turnout, strained small-event budget and new insurance requirements

Arts staff told the Playbill Arts Council that community arts activations this season have been successful but have exhausted the currently available funding and that certain activities require individual liability coverage.

"The city cannot insure," Joanna Schiambel, arts and culture director, said when council members asked whether the city could purchase insurance for program participants. Staff explained that simple performances where participants bring their own instruments generally do not require additional coverage, but activities that instruct or physically involve participants (for example, dance workshops) create higher liability and typically require event insurance. Staff said many applicants were required to show proof of insurance before grant funds could be released; in some cases the city has supplemented or reimbursed applicants who mis-budgeted insurance costs.

Staff provided attendance and participation numbers for recent programs: the film competition on June 7 had about 75 attendees and produced seven short films; plein-air fine-art painting classes enroll about 15 students weekly and often accept walk-up participants; the Gully Park Art Market has hosted about 60 vendors so far this season. Staff said average vendor sales have been ‘‘a couple hundred dollars per vendor' and that they hope to raise that number by increasing foot traffic at events.

Staff said the community-activation grant fund is effectively committed through July and that some applicants are being held in reserve in case contingency funds free up. "We did communicate to the community that after July, there was not going to be any more funds available," staff said. Staff said they will request an incremental budget increase next year and will document this season's attendance and outcomes to support that request.

On insurance costs, staff offered examples: a single-evening general-liability policy for a small band can be relatively inexpensive (staff cited a figure in the meeting of roughly $55 for an evening policy), while dance classes and other physically participatory events are higher-cost to insure. Staff maintains a list of local insurance vendors and can advise applicants on budget expectations; applicants must provide proof of coverage before the city distributes grant funds for higher-risk activities.

Staff also updated the council on ongoing programming and schedules: weekend activations, movies in the park (recently sold out at Walker Park), two NWA Jazz All-Stars concerts scheduled for July 31 and Sept. 5, a new film night at Lewis Soccer Complex, a Brian Alexis mural installation at the YRCC, and a fully installed City Hall second-floor exhibition of 24 pieces. Staff said they will closely track costs, attendance and insurance needs as the season continues and will return to the council with funding requests as appropriate.