COTA approves $2,300 in fall 2025 special project arts grants; $7,262 reserved for spring 2026

COTA approved fall 2025 special project grant awards totaling $2,300 and set administrative deadlines at a brief meeting.

The grants direct $900 to the AIMS Community Arts Council for Empty Bowls 2025, $500 to Aims Town and Gown for a Beijing guitar duo performance, and $900 to Story Theater Company for the fall musical Once Upon a Mattress. The committee noted those awards leave $7,262 available for spring 2026 special project grants.

Committee members voted to approve the May 5 meeting minutes before considering the grant recommendations. After the allocations were presented, a motion to approve the proposed amounts carried and the awards were recorded as approved.

Staff clarified timing and reporting deadlines during the meeting. The drawdown request for fiscal year 24-25 annual grants and the spring 2025 special project grants is due June 30. Final reports for the 24-25 annual grants and spring 2025 grants are due July 28. The committee confirmed it will not meet in July; its next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 4.

Meeting participants acknowledged some confusion about fiscal-year labels during the discussion and corrected the schedule and deadlines before adjournment. No further agenda items were raised, and the meeting concluded after roughly three minutes.