Foundry Art Centre Faces Funding Shortfall

The , an exhibit space and hub for local artists, faces a funding shortfall in the next year and has asked the city for money.

Executive Director Laura Helling and members of the board of directors appealed to the city during the Nov. 30 city council work session.

The city owns the Foundry Art Centre's facility, the former American Car and Foundry. The city also contributed $2.2 million to renovate the property before it opened in  2004. The centre is responsible for its own operational costs. Funding comes in part from program fees, corporate and individual donations. 

The current economy has made it challenging for the Foundry to realize a profit, said Helling. The Foundry has consistently had about a $60,000 annual shortfall.

Helling asked the city to help in one of three ways:

• contribute $75,000 to cover short-term operational costs;
• provide a contract development or marketing specialist at a cost of about $55,000;
• or provide $60,000 to offset utility costs for a year.

"Any one of these or the combination of the three is what we're currently lacking," she said. "Any one would make a significant difference."

Board member Gary Shaw said the board has a plan to secure more funding for the Foundry, but needs financial help in the short-term. The Foundry has raised wedding rental rates 25 percent, which will help alleviate the shortfall starting in March.

 "I feel if we can get through the next few months we will be in a position to do a lot of good things," he said.

City Council president Mike Klinghammer believes the greatest need is for a development specialist to help the Foundry bring in more money.  Several other council members agreed.

"Without adding that marketing (and) development specialist, I don't see a way to really increase revenue with doing the programming that's currently going on," Klinghammer said.

Council member Richard Veit raised concerns about the city supporting a development or marketing specialist.

"That's a weird thing, saying this person works for the city and they're going around scraping for money," he said.

In addition to asking for money, Helling also spoke about the board's efforts to implement suggestions from a 2008 operational audit. One such recommendation was to bring in national touring exhibitions that could draw regional crowds. Helling said the Foundry has secured a 2012 photography exhibit by Annie Leibovitz titled Women.

"That's one of many we can bring into the area that will not only elevate what the foundry offers but will improve tourism," she said.

Hellig also asked the city to look into maintenance concerns, which pose safety hazards. These include cracks in the floor of art galleries, a lack of outside water access, degraded gallery lighting and problems with the sewage venting system.

Councilman Larry Meunch said the city should look into the maintenance issues.

Klinghammer said council might consider adding a contribution to the Foundry to the 2011 budget in December.