A coalition of Front Range arts groups says it will ask the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District to giving a more generous share to smaller organizations who often serve patrons outside the Denver city limits.
In May, the SCFD board voted to put on the November 2016 public ballot, funding cultural groups in much the same way it has for a quarter century.
The largest groups, like the , would split 60 percent of most revenues collected, mid-size groups, like the , would divide 24 percent and the remaining 197 groups, would share 16 percent.
But smaller organizations want a bigger cut. They are suggesting a 50-30-20 split. Their argument: They serve a third of the cultural audiences in the region.
The percentage differences might seem meager, but there’s a lot of cash at stake for the non-profit groups. The collects about $50 million a year. That figure is expected to grow to as much as $87 million annually by the time the next reauthorization expires.
The battle is shaping up along geographic lines. The smaller groups, who work often work with volunteer staffs and struggle financially, argue that they need the money to keep their theater companies and museums thriving. But they also claim the funding has a big-city bias, favoring more established organizations in the city center.
, who represents an alliance of smaller groups, pointed out at a meeting of about 80 arts providers in Denver Wednesday that Boulder County residents contributed $4.5 million to the SCFD in 2013. The county’s cultural groups were awarded $995,000 that year.
“I think voters in Boulder County are not going to see that as a good investment,” she said.
But larger groups contend they serve regional audiences and deserve funding from all seven counties. Major institutions, like the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and the , tout their high level of quality, their importance to the city’s education efforts and national reputation, and their ability to bring tourists to the area.
Those groups also note that the funding percentages move more in favor of the smaller groups as tax revenues increase, leveling the field.
Both sides have persuasive arguments — and a legion of patrons, staff and board members willing to back their cause.
If the SCFD board dismisses the smaller groups request, the battle could get messy. The ballot measure must be approved by the Colorado state legislature before it goes to voters. Arts groups on both sides of the issue have already hired lobbyists to press their cause with lawmakers and the public.
The SCFD does not plan to ask for an increase in the 1/10 of 1 percent sales and use tax that funds it.
Ray Mark Rinaldi: 303-954-1540, rrinaldi@denverpost.com or twitter.com/rayrinaldi
