St. Louis Regional Arts Commission

About RAC

The Regional Arts Commission elevates the

vitality, value & visibility

of arts organizations and artists

“The Regional Arts Commission leads, strengthens and gives voice to a creative community where every citizen can be proud to live, work and play in a world-class region.”

Vision & Pledge

RAC is at the forefront of efforts to transform St.Louis into a more vibrant, creative and economically thriving community through elevating the vitality, value and visibility of the arts.

Using cross-sector collaborations and partnerships, RAC is a leader in providing innovation, access and creative solutions to economic and community development. RAC advocates respect, inclusion and appreciation of the diverse cultures of all individuals.

$76 Million

funds for the arts

More than

5,800

grants awarded

Since 1985, RAC has made a profound impact on St.Louis by supporting and promoting the arts. RAC's visionary and dynamic work continues to energize St.Louis culturally and economically.

$1 Million
in additional ticket sales through DART, the collabrative marketing intiative

More than

11 Million

visits annually

  • Funding

    that's consistent and stable

  • Training

    for arts administrators and artists

  • Community arts
    training institute

    teaching how to use the arts for social change

  • public policy

    supporting arts in every community

  • marketing

    that engages more audiences

  • art commandos

    enlisting volunteers for the arts

  • neighborhood
    development

    engaging diverse communities through art

  • artszipper.com

    providing a cool calendar of cultural events

Download the full brochure as a pdf:

 

Mission & Governance

Mission

The Regional Arts Commission was founded in 1985 to promote, encourage, and foster the arts and cultural institutions in St. Louis City and County and to contribute to the economic development of the area through a strong presence of the arts. The mission of the Regional Arts Commission is to create an environment that nurtures artists as well as arts and cultural organizations by:

  • Providing funds to promote, encourage and foster the arts and cultural institutions and activities within its boundaries
  • Promoting and preserving cultural diversity
  • Helping artists and arts and cultural organizations improve quality
  • Creating equal access to cultural opportunities
  • Insuring consideration of aesthetic issues in local decision making
  • Continuing to engage in cultural planning

Governance

Fifteen Commissioners appointed jointly by the Mayor and County Executive serve four-year terms. The Commission office is run by an executive director with the assistance of a staff of nine full-time employees.


RETURN TO TOP

Fact Sheets

These documents are a good way to get a quick overview of some of the Regional Arts Commission's programs:


RETURN TO TOP

Commissioners & Staff

Executive Committee

  • Donna Wilkinson, Chairman
  • Kevin Farrell, Vice Chairman
  • Sara Burke, Secretary
  • Michael Scully, Treasurer
  • Maria Taxman, Member at Large

Commission Members

  • Rachel Keller Brown
  • Timothy Fogerty
  • Eva Frazer, M.D.
  • Noemi K. Neidorff
  • Thomas Purcell
  • Dennis M. Reagan
  • John Russell
  • Ann C. Scott
  • Cheryl Walker
  • Dr. John Wright

The Regional Arts Commission Staff

For more information on the staff, check out our bios.

Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants
for the Arts (314) 863-6930


RETURN TO TOP

Funding Programs

Matching funds are available to not-for-profit, qualifying arts and cultural organizations and community arts councils for:

  • Operating support (which covers basic operating expenses such as rent, salaries, utilities, etc.) or program support (which relates to specific costs associated with a program such as artists' fees, travel costs, promotion or publicity materials, etc.) for the development or presentation of arts or cultural programs.
  • Purchase of equipment which will streamline administrative operations or improve the artistic quality of a product.
  • Consultancies with qualified experts in arts management.
  • Conference travel grants.
  • Special projects.

Grant applications may be obtained by contacting the Regional Arts Commission office or on-line through the Grants Program section of this website.

Annual Grant Awards

In 2012, RAC awarded more than $2.86 million to support nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, consortiums, and programs in the St. Louis area. The Commission awarded 114 Program Support I and II grants, which combined with 25 Operating Support I and II, and 47 Program Support III grants (on a two-year cycle beginning in 2011), total more than $2.86 million in 186 grant awards. Since it was created in 1985, RAC has awarded more than 5,800 grants totaling more than $76 million.

 

RETURN TO TOP

Other Commission Programs

Arts Commandos: This volunteer arm of the Regional Arts Commission was established in 1990. More than 500 community members volunteer to assist arts/cultural organizations with projects from painting and caulking, to ushering and mailings. In 15 years of service they have completed 450 projects in the community.

ArtsZipper calendar: "The Hot Calendar for Cool Culture!" Check out all the cultural events the St. Louis region has to offer and sign up for free weekly e-mails with upcoming events.

Community Arts Training (CAT) Institute: Since 1997, the Community Arts Training (CAT) Institute at the Regional Arts Commission continues to be an innovative program built on the belief that art can be an agent of social change. The CAT Institute, a national model, is designed to provide professional level, comprehensive training for artists of all disciplines and for social service providers/community workers to develop and implement partnerships.

The Gallery at the Regional Arts Commission: Located on the first floor of the Cultural Resource Center, The Gallery is committed to exhibiting the work of local artists and fostering opportunities for curators living in the St. Louis region. By special invitation, guest curators compose group exhibitions, each featuring works that explore a specific discourse. RAC accepts proposals for exhibitions on a rolling basis.

Internship program: Designed to give current students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the non-profit arts realm.

Seminar Programs: The Commission provides technical assistance to not-for-profit organizations in the form of seminars which focus on arts management issues such as fundraising, marketing, grant writing and board development.

Resource Library: The Commission maintains a library of books and periodicals on arts management.
The resource library of the St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts (VLAA) and the Regional Arts Commission is housed in the RAC office and contains more than 500 books and periodicals on a wide range of arts-related law and business topics. Thanks to the cooperation of the Municipal Library Consortium of St. Louis County, VLAA's library catalog is searchable on the web.

Special Projects: The Commission sponsors projects to increase visibility, build audiences for the arts, and employ artists.

Advocacy: Commissioners and staff regularly assist organizations with special management needs and serve as facilitators for integrating the arts into every aspect of the community, including community planning.

Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts provides free legal and accounting assistance for artists and arts organizations, and sponsors a wide range of affordable educational programs.

 


RETURN TO TOP

Historical Perspective

Prior to 1985, St. Louis City and St. Louis County supported the arts in different ways. In 1979, Mayor Conway formed the Arts & Humanities Commission of the City of St. Louis. He appointed 11 people to serve on the board of the Commission and appointed an Executive Director. The Commission was funded by City government with the Executive Director serving on the Mayor’s cabinet. The budget was approximately $300,000.

The County supported the arts by providing funding to Laumeier Sculpture Park, the Historic Sites Commission, and the Museum of Transportation, in addition to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Pops concerts in Queeny Park and other park concerts. The financial support was included in the County’s parks and recreation budget. Then in 1982, the County Executive and the Mayor developed a 5/8-cent sales tax proposal, in an attempt to provide a regional tax base to fund economic development, tourism, and arts and cultural institutions. After a region-wide campaign, the tax failed to pass by a slim margin in the County in August, 1982.

The County Executive and the Mayor then decided to try to fund each area separately, and in 1983 the four institutions in the Zoo/Museum District (the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, the Science Center, and the Missouri Botanical Garden) succeeded in passing an increase in the property tax. (A fifth institution, the History Museum, was added by vote in 1987.) Also, an economic development district was created at the state level.

The remaining areas, non-Zoo/Museum District institutions and tourism, then had to be addressed. In 1984, with the support of The Hotel/Motel Association, the plan to create a Convention and Tourism Commission and a Regional Arts Commission was developed. The hotel/motel room sales tax was increased from 3 percent to 3.75 percent with the Convention and Visitor's Commission receiving 11/15 of the total amount collected in the City and County, and the Arts Commission receiving 4/15 of the total tax collected. After passing the enabling legislation in Spring ’84, a regional campaign strategy with a modest budget was implemented. With the help of almost all of the cultural institutions, large and small, and over 300 volunteers, the increased hotel/motel sales tax was passed in November, 1984. In January, 1985, both the Convention and Visitors Commission and the Regional Cultural and Performing Arts Development Commission (called the Regional Arts Commission) were in place.

The Regional Arts Commission was formed to support and foster art and culture in the St. Louis City and County area and to contribute to the economic development of the area through a strong presence of the arts. A fifteen-member Commission, appointed jointly by the Mayor and County Executive, was formed to oversee funds received from 4/15 of the hotel/motel room sales tax levied in St. Louis City and County. The Regional Arts Commission can only spend 15 percent of its revenues for administrative purposes. The balance of the funds are used to support qualifying not-for-profit organizations that produce or present arts or cultural programs for the St. Louis region, special programs, and Commission initiatives.


RETURN TO TOP

Freedom of Expression and Cultural Diversity Policies

Freedom of Expression Policy

The Regional Arts Commission has an abiding commitment to preserving and enhancing freedom of speech, thought, inquiry and artistic expression. The Commission's responsibility for and dedication to securing the conditions in which freedom of expression can flourish extend to all forms of artistic expression, including the visual arts, design, literature, media, and the performance of theatre, music and dance.

The Regional Arts Commission recognizes that the right of artists to exhibit or perform does not preclude the right of others to take exception to particular works of art.

Cultural Diversity Policy

The Regional Arts Commission (RAC) advocates respect, inclusion and appreciation of the diverse cultures and backgrounds of all individuals. The Commission is committed to working through the arts to eliminate bias and prejudices based on race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, or disability. The Commission encourages, supports and strengthens arts organizations and programs that reflect these values. RAC also partners with other organizations to address issues of diversity.

 

Programs seeking funding from the Commission undergo a thorough evaluation, including review by citizens knowledgeable in the arts field, artists, Commission staff and the 15 members who make up the governing body of the Regional Arts Commission. The final determination of funding for programs rests solely with the Commission.


RETURN TO TOP

Where to Find Us

We're located on the Delmar Loop one block east of Skinker Boulevard.

Regional Arts Commission
6128 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63112-1204
(314) 863-5811

PARKING: Free parking behind The Pageant and metered street parking on Delmar Blvd.

 

Need Driving Directions?


RETURN TO TOP